 Rookie Frank Grzeszczak is this week's player in “Breaking the Ice with…” This is a regular feature on www.plymouthwhalers.com and showcases a different player so we can get to know the Whalers better.
Grzeszczak, who was selected in the 11th round (209th overall) in the 2005 OHL Draft by Plymouth, is a smooth- skating, offensively-minded blueliner. He can run the point on the power play and tallied his first OHL point in his fourth game with a power play goal at Guelph. The Plantation, Florida, native took a few minutes after practice to help us break the ice and chat about where hockey has taken him, why Zack Shepley's sister lived with his family, and what his nickname Pacho means. » On the best advice he has been given… “Work hard. The harder you work and the bigger the sacrifices, the better the results.” » On how he started playing hockey… “I started playing roller hockey when I was four because my next door neighbor played and that made me want to play too. I took a lot of skating lessons and focused on my skating which has helped a lot with my size.”  » On his youth hockey highlight…
“Winning the national championship game 3-2 with Honeybaked in Pittsburgh during my bantam major year.” » On the championships he has won… “The national championship with Honeybaked, Silver Sticks, and another national championship with a team in Florida.” » On the different places hockey has taken him… “When I was twelve, I moved to Toronto to play and then when I was 13 I moved to Bloomfield Hills for two years to play for Honeybaked. After that, I moved to Iowa to play for the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL and now I’m back here in Michigan with Plymouth. It was a learning experience to move away from home when I was only twelve. It was exciting though too because the hockey in Florida wasn’t very challenging.” » On hockey's development in Florida… “It is growing now since the Florida Panthers have been there. It’s starting to develop good hockey players. Most players start with inline and then play ice.” » On picking major junior over playing in college for Nebraska-Omaha… “I thought it was a better route for me to get to the NHL.” » On who has influenced him in hockey… “Pops (his father Frank).”  » On playing at the Select 17s…
“It was fun since I got to see a lot of the guys from around the country that I don’t get to see during the season. I met up with friends and just chatted it up.” » On the rookie adjustments he envisions… “I think coming from the USHL, I haven’t had to make as many adjustments as most rookies would have to make. The league had a lot of guys that were bigger and stronger, so it has helped me adjust to the OHL.” » On if there is anything behind his jersey number 27… “Not really. I wore it last year and so I stuck with it.” » On the toughest player he has played against… “Kyle Okposo because he’s so strong and hard to get off the puck. He’s skilled and good.” » On the player he tries to model his game after… “John-Michael Liles, from Michigan State. We kind of play alike.” » On teammate Zack Shepley's sister, Jessica, living with his dad… “She was playing on the Junior LPGA tour and my pops ended up being her billet. Dave Gagner actually set it up since he knows both of our families. It's a pretty small world how it worked out.” » On playing with London's Sam Gagner last season… “It was good. He’s a good kid and a good influence. He works hard and is a good teammate – a real good player.” 
» On his favorite class… “Math.” » On what he'd do if he didn't play hockey… “I have no idea. All I want to be is a hockey player.” » On what he brings to the team… “Hopefully solid defense and chip in offensively.” » On his typical day… “I wake up, I go to school, I go to practice, I work hard, I work out, I go home, and I go to sleep after I have dinner.” » On his pre-game routine… “I wake up and I eat around 1 or 1:30 and then I go to sleep. I go to the rink around 4, tape my stick, and run or ride the bike.” » On the funniest thing that has happened on the road… “Last year, Lincoln’s home opener – that’s where (Jared) Boll used to play – when we went out for warm-ups the fans were pouring beer on us and spitting on us.”  » On rule changes helping him…
“There’s less clutching and grabbing so it gives me more room to skate. It has opened up more room in hockey for smaller and more skilled players.” » On his funniest teammate… “Shepley.” » On his nicknames… ”Pacho because it means Frank in Spanish.” » On his superstitions… “I can’t tell you. Part of my superstition is that I can’t tell.” » On his dream goal… “It would be against Patrick Roy and I’d skate around my net, dangle all five guys, and score – top cheese.” » On his dream vacation… “Somewhere where it is icy all the time so I can play hockey all day.”  » On his last name…
“I think it’s funny that people mess it up. It’s embarrassing the first day in a new school when a teacher butchers it, but I’m used to it now.” » On the person he would most like to meet… “(Wayne) Gretzky or Jessica Alba, one of those two. No, Gretzky.” » On what one thing he could not live without… “Hockey.” » On what type of character he would be on TV… “The one that entertains everyone.” » On one rule change he would make in hockey… “The rule with the trapezoid limiting where the goalie can go, I hate that rule.” » On what other five players he would want on the ice with him… “Gretzky. The goalie would be (Patrick) Roy. My partner would be Paul Coffey on defense. I’ve got Gretzky already, this is tough, Jari Kurri and (Mark) Messier. Pretty much the old Oilers.” -Natalie Shaver, November 7th, 2006- -- Other Players' "Breaking the Ice" Features -- | 
