Groves has heart on ice

Josh Groves has done everything for the Utah State hockey club.

Forward, defender, goalie, team leader; he’s done them all.

He joined the team in 2002 as a forward, but was moved back to defense shortly into the season. After the fall semester was over, neither of the team’s goalies had good enough grades to play, so Groves was called up to fill that vacancy.

“I played goalie in high school,” he said. “By the time the coaches asked me, I was ready to get back in net.”

Groves decided to stay at goalie for the 2003 season and share the net with Chris Webber, who had just joined the team from San Jose State.

Webber signed a professional contract to play in Spain just before the current season began.

“I want to go back in net next year because I feel like I’m at the same level as Chris [Webber],” Groves said. “I want to play hockey as much as I can. I’m not as skilled as the other players, so my only chance to play after college is in net.”

His teammates say Groves always plays up to his potential.

“Groves is consistently the hardest working player on the ice,” team captain Scotty John said. “He never quits.”

Roberto Leo, Groves’ teammate and roommate, said Groves is always giving everything he has.

“He adds a lot of heart and aggression,” he said. “He’s always giving 100 percent in games and practices.”

Leo said Groves is a leader on the team through his example.

“If he has to yell, he’ll yell,” he said. “But that’s not very often.”

Leo said he and Groves have a friendly rivalry between the two of them.

“It’s fun being his roommate,” he said. “We’re competitive in everything we do. I feel kind of bad because I beat him at everything.”

Groves said he started playing hockey as a kid with his friend from Canada, David. They would play roller hockey after school until ninth grade when Groves finally hit the ice.

Groves said he had a desire to play many sports when he was young.

“I wanted to be a football player at first,” Groves said. “Then all I wanted to do was play basketball.”

Groves said at first he thought Logan would be too small for him, but it has grown on him over the years.

“I like it here,” he said. “It’s a chill place. It has a good campus setting.”

Groves said he comes from an athletic family.

His uncle, Ken Johnson, played in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and then played in the Canadian Football League.

John said Groves is one of the most all-around athletic players on the team.

“He’s one of the fastest players at full speed,” he said. “His diversity is amazing for the team to watch. He always does whatever it takes and that’s rubbed off on a lot of guys.”

Leo said while Groves is an example on the ice, he’s also a great friend off the ice.

“He’s a good guy,” he said. “That’s all you have to say.”

-bhhinton@cc.usu.edu