The class of 2019 is one that has featured many key players over the last four seasons for Ohio. This article is a part of a larger series that The Post will conduct on all seven members of the senior class.
Grant Hazel skated with an expressionless face toward middle ice. It’s a face that Ohio fans have grown accustomed to. It’s a face that come the end of March, they will grow to miss as well.
The senior from Dayton has had a career filled with many highs and few lows. From being an assistant captain two years in a row, to a national championship appearance, Hazel’s time as a Bobcat is one that he’ll miss.
“It’s been a really fun time,” he said. “I originally was supposed to go up and play up East, but this has been the best decision for me coming here. I’ve made a lot of great friends and I’d like to thank all my teammates.”
While the assistant captain still has a few more games left under his belt, Hazel and the consistency he’s brought to Ohio will be one of the more noticeable missing pieces next season.
The calm, cool and collected Hazel that’s taken the ice for Ohio the last couple of seasons wasn’t how he started off though.
In his freshman campaign, Hazel made his presence on the ice known immediately – but not in the most helpful way to the team.
He racked up 55 penalty minutes in 35 games, which had him at second on the team for most minutes in the box. From there, his minutes have lessened marginally as his career has gone on, including a current total of 31.
Where penalty minutes have gone down, total points have gone up.
After he posted just a measly nine in his first year at Ohio (3 goals, 6 assists), his point totals from his sophomore and junior season are a combined 49 (20 goals, 29 assists).
“You know what you’re going to get from him,” senior defenseman Tom Pokorney said. “He’s very consistent in his playing style, you know he’s going to be physical, you know he’s going to make good passes, you just try to play off of that.”
Pokorney and Hazel have been one of the Bobcats most sound defensive pairings this year.
The two have a ying-and-yang playing style, as Hazel is the blueprint for a defenseman: Big, aggressive, stays back in the zone and works the puck inside, whereas his counterpart is more offensively minded. Porkoney from time to time has been seen skating down center ice on breakaway opportunities.
“He’ll always be back for me, so we gel nicely there,” Pokorney said. “Playing with Grant on your side is nice because he’s not scared of anyone – I feel like I can do whatever I want out there.”
As time has gone on, Hazel’s role on the team has only increased and the numbers are evident of that. With the influx relationship of penalty minutes decreasing and points increasing, his maturation is one of the most evident throughout his class.
“Grant’s been incredibly reliable for us since he got here,” coach Sean Hogan said. “He’s always been physically imposing, aggressive and has had a heavy shot that’s helped us out from time to time.”
A career filled with a continuous upward climb is soon to reach the top. The days spent playing NCAA 14 as Ohio State against Pokorney’s Michigan are numbered. How he wakes up early in the morning, cooking breakfast and singing to himself while his roommates try to get just another second of sleep are almost over. His impersonations of players, coaches and team doctors are set to take one last curtain call. While all of this and hockey are set to end soon, Hazel is ready for the next chapter.
“It’s going to be pretty nice,” Hazel said through a grin. “I’m going to try and go on a couple of trips before I start my job, just enjoy the summer. (Playing hockey) has been fun, but I’m excited for what’s next.”
Hazel has a few job interviews set up, but he truly doesn’t know what path lies past graduation. It’s safe to assume that it’ll be a path driven by consistency.
