By Warren Kozireski —
Senior left-wing Chris Grando spent his hockey developmental years with the Long Island Gulls and the North Jersey Avalanche before heading north for two years in the USHL with Green Bay.
Then it was off to Boston College for two seasons prior to transferring 2,600 miles west to Arizona State University where he is helping the Sun Devils rebound from a lackluster 2020-21 season.
“We’ve been buzzing our last ten games (7-3 with four wins against ranked teams), so we just need to keep it going,” Grando said after a weekend series at RIT.
“I see myself as an energy guy on this team. I also feel like I’m a playmaker as well.”
The son of Michele and Chris got off to a solid start to his collegiate career in Boston playing in every game his freshman year and leading the team with three game-winning goals and tied for the team lead in shorthanded goals. He was also named Hockey East Player of the Week that November.
The offense didn’t come as easily in his sophomore year with seven points in 37 games and he sat out 2019-20 due to transfer protocol.
“When I decided to transfer, I had a really good conversation with Coach (Greg) Powers and I loved the culture that was bult here before I even got here and I’m just happy to be a part of it and join it.”
His first year at Arizona State, Brando finished third on the team in points and recorded three multi-point games during the shortened 25-game schedule.
This season he has five goals and six assists through 23 games putting him tied for seventh on the team in points.
Even though he is a senior, because of the Covid season in 2020-21, the Communication major and Business minor has the option of playing an extra year next season if he chooses. And then?
“I’m not sure; we’ll see whatever options are available. I definitely want to continue to play hockey in my future and play as long as I possibly can and then see what happens after next year.”
(Arizona State University Men’s Hockey Team Photo)
