UNH Commit Robby Griffin: A High IQ, High Effort Player

Robby Griffin
2019 UNH Commit

"He pushes the pace offensively, especially through the neutral zone. Shows mobility and a quick stick near the net. Played 2 seasons in the National Collegiate Development Conference against older players where he learned to move without the puck and play in traffic. High IQ." Neutral Zone

Robby Griffin Forward, 6'0", 176 lbs. Shoots Right Hometown: Burlington, Massachusetts DOB: 1-8-2001 Turned 18 in January 2017 United States Hockey League Futures Draft: 2nd Round, 19th Overall by Sioux Falls Stampede 2017 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Draft: 12th Round, 217th Overall by Saint John Sea Dogs Neutral Zone Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars 2018-19 Team: Boston Junior Bruins (NCDC)                        ~ First Line Center; First Power Play Unit Commits to UNH: May, 2019 at Age 18 years, 4 months.

2018-19 NCDC Highlight Reel

At the beginning of the 2018-19 season, the large majority of players in the National Collegiate Development Conference were either 18, 19 or 20 years old. Robby Griffin (DOB: 1-8-2001), playing his second season in the NCDC, was only 17. He primarily played center on the Boston Junior Bruins' starting lineup and first power play unit and finished the regular season with 8 goals and 34 assists in 50 games. Griffin tied for 8th in NCDC scoring and assists and played in the league's All-Star Game.

The Junior Bruins won the NCDC Playoffs and the 2018-19 Dineen Cup Championship. Griffin tallied 2 goals and 7 assists during the 8-game run. He scored the second most assists and points in the league playoffs. These video highlights show a sample of Robby Griffin's goals and assists from his final season of junior hockey:

Interview

I had an opportunity to interview Robby Griffin, via email, about his hockey career and commitment to UNH:

Mike Lowry ("C-H-C"): Congratulations on your commitment to play for the University of New Hampshire. What are the main reasons you chose UNH?

Robby Griffin: When I stepped on the campus and spoke with Coach Souza he seemed extremely relatable, straightforward and trustworthy. I can see myself fitting in well in the environment in general, as well as the on the team and in the program itself. I like the trust that they have in me as a player and felt a lot of trust in the coaching staff.

Mike Lowry: In March, 2016, when you had just turned 15, you verbally accepted an athletic scholarship offer from Northeastern University. What factors entered into your decision to reopen your college search?

Robby Griffin: Things just change sometimes. As a freshman in high school it is tough to make a decision that early and choose a college. And as a senior in high school, I still loved the program but I just felt there could possibly be a better fit. It was a tough decision but after talking to my parents and advisor a lot I decided it was the best option for me.

Lowry: When you renewed the recruiting process, what college programs did you consider? Which schools did you visit and which ones made an offer to you?

Griffin: UNH was my main option even from the beginning of that process. I went up for a camp there years ago so I had some familiarity with the place and I remember liking the campus and the facilities. Once I met the staff and felt the trust they had in me, it really cemented my decision to pursue it. After visiting UNH I knew it was the right fit.

Lowry: You have signed a National Letter of Intent with UNH and plan to enroll this coming Fall. How far along are you in the process of applying for NCAA eligibility and admission to the University of New Hampshire?

Griffin: I am pretty close to being done with the process. There are a lot of steps to take but academically and athletically I should be cleared within the coming days/weeks and I am already excited to be heading up there this fall.

Lowry: At this stage in your hockey development, what are the main strengths of your game? What areas are you trying to improve?

Griffin: Entering school as a younger freshman, my strengths are my hockey IQ, skating, and my playmaking and defensive abilities. I see myself as a two way center who can be trusted in all areas of the game, reliable and coachable. I believe that I can create space for myself and make my teammates around me better players. I have been working a lot on being a little more aggressive which includes using my shot more, and playing more physical. I will continue to work on those facets over this summer.

Lowry: Last season, as the starting center for the Boston Junior Bruins NCDC team, you scored 8 goals and 34 assists in 42 regular season games and 2 goals and 7 assists in 8 playoff games. How would you describe your skills in the core areas of a centerman (e.g., faceoffs, passing, forechecking, and assisting your defensemen below the faceoff circles)?

Griffin: Not to reiterate too much from the previous question but as a center I believe my best ability is to be able to be adaptable and versatile. It is a position where you need to be at your best all over the ice and I accept that pressure and love it. I take pride in winning face-offs, using my stick to redirect a pass, or simply to calm the play down and make good passes through the neutral zone to get our team into the offensive zone. Offensively, as a center it is important to control the puck and distribute well to your wingers and I believe I consistently do this as well

Lowry: Over the last three summers, you participated in the USA Hockey Selects Player Development Camps. How do you think your skills compare with the other top US forwards born in 2001? In which skill area have you shown the most improvement?

Griffin: Those camps were always humbling as I feel the 2001 class is one of the strongest, with a lot of dynamic forwards all around the nation. I believe there are a lot of good players and I am glad to be a part of that group. I believe my game will translate well to the next level.

Lowry: You earned a number of hockey achievements at a relatively early age. A couple months after your 15th birthday, you verbally committed to a Hockey East school. A year later, you were selected by the Sioux Falls Stampede in the United States Hockey League Phase I Draft. You could have pursued a junior hockey career in a number of leagues in the US and Canada. What were the main reasons you chose to remain at home in Burlington, Massachusetts and play for the Boston Junior Bruins in the National Collegiate Development Conference?

Griffin: I’ve always taken a different path from the main pack and I am very glad. Even back in squirts, playing town hockey rather than jumping to elite right away always helped. I believe that everyone ends up in the same place and that the better players always rise to the top with how they play, not where they play.
The NCDC is a challenging new league as a younger player especially and I believe it definitely got me ready for college hockey. I love my hometown and have close bonds with many friends and having the ability to stay at home and graduate in my hometown is a dream come true while still playing competitive hockey. The Junior Bruins have always had my trust and I believe they really care about their players, it’s more than just winning to them. .

Lowry: What are your academic strengths and interests? Have you thought about what you might major in when you enroll at UNH?

Griffin: My biggest academic strength is being the leader in groups and working well with people/communication. I am also strong with numbers and technology. I am going to major in business administration and probably specify a specific branch of that later on. I see myself thriving there and loving it along the way.

Neutral Zone Scouting Reports

From the NCDC Fall Beantown Classic, October, 2018

"Robby is the best prospect and probably the best player in the NCDC as a 2001. He does not jump off the ice at you as he does not force his skill on the game. He is really smart stays around the puck and jumps to chances. Stole a puck Saturday and quickly buried it top corner. Elite shot. Plays center and liked to be the F3. Sneaks in and out of scoring areas. Settles in scoring spots. His stride is excellent as he gets every bit of his legs. Pushed pace on the rush and in the zone made smart passes. He moved the puck board to board and stretched defenses to create space. He has improved getting to tough areas and has learned to carve out space in the net front and win pucks on the wall. High IQ, high effort player who is tough, talented and skilled. He is a hockey player who consistently makes plays. Lots more upside."

From the USA Hockey Select 17 National Development Camp, July, 2018

"Griffin, the longtime Boston Jr. Bruins star forward, made his third straight national camp and got off to a slow start but was better and better as the week went on. He is a talented forward who has deceptive speed, strong edges and high-level hockey IQ. He scored a beautiful top corner short side snipe looking off a pass on a 2v1 coming out of the corner on the power play. He’s a skilled passer because of his touch on his passes and his poise to allow the play to develop. He’s got a bit of an understated style; he isn’t flashy but he’s got a rare ability to make plays both in open ice and in traffic and can play a lot of different roles. He excelled on the power play and the penalty kill, he won face-offs, he supported the puck on breakouts and played a detailed defensive game especially in front of his own net."

Youth & Junior Hockey Statistics

Player	Season	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	PIM
Robby Griffin  (F)	2018-19	Boston Junior Bruins	NCDC	50	8	34	42	22
			Playoffs	8	2	7	9	8
			USA Select 17	5	1	1	2	0
	2017-18	Boston Junior Bruins	NCDC	49	8	15	23	18
			Playoffs	6	1	3	4	0
			USA Select 16	5	3	2	5	2
	2016-17	Boston Junior Bruins	USPHL 16U	28	14	33	47	32
			Playoffs	3	0	2	2	0
			USA Select 15	3	1	2	3	0
	2015-16	Boston Junior Bruins	USPHL 16U	30	7	26	33	4
			Playoffs	2	0	1	1	0