The NHL Central Scouting Service ranked Dartmouth rookie defenseman Grant Lewis '07 the No. 29 skater in all of North America on Jan. 15. The service ranks the top 240 skaters in North American who are eligible for the upcoming NHL Draft.
This past week, Lewis added a number of additional honors to his name: The Dartmouth defenseman, who finished the season ranked third on the Dartmouth team in scoring (three goals, 22 assists), was named to both the Inside College Hockey All-Rookie Team and the ECAC All-Rookie Team. Lewis was also named First Team All-Ivy League as well as First Team All-ECAC.
Lewis was the second-highest freshman scorer in Dartmouth hockey history and was the first freshman to be named First Team All-ECAC since the 1991-1992 season.
For Lewis, however, his personal accomplishments have not shifted his focus from the goals and aspirations of the team: "It is obviously a great feeling being selected to the all-rookie team, but individual accolades have to come second to the team. We had a pretty good season this year, but I know we didn't accomplish some of our team goals," said Lewis.
"Coming into next season," Lewis continued, "our team has to remember why we are here so we can all accomplish our goal of winning both an ECAC championship, along with a national championship -- not settling for anything less."
Lewis admits that the end-of-season honors have given him an "ego boost" in regards to the upcoming NHL entry draft. Many are projecting the Dartmouth blue-liner as a first-round draft choice.
"My biggest support all year was definitely from my coaches," said Lewis. "My coaches were there through all of the highs and all of the lows all season. They never once doubted me."
Lewis also cited two freshman basketball players, Jon Blakely '07 and Paul Bode '07, and his other freshman teammates as season-long sources of support.
Head coach Bob Gaudet '81 summed up Lewis' season perfectly: "Grant had an outstanding season for us. We graduated three excellent defensemen from last year's team and defense was supposed to be a big question mark. Grant stepped in and played like a veteran all year," said Gaudet. "We are very proud of his accomplishments."
