Kyan Grouette moved to Winnipeg this past summer to train at Rink Hockey Academy and that training included a few hours on-ice every day and he was also in the gym and doing dryland.
A seventh-round draft pick by the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League in the 2020 WHL Draft, Kyan knew that if he wanted to have the chance to stay in Everett this year, making the move to Winnipeg was necessary and it looks like that work has paid off.
The Dauphin Kings prospect from Dauphin has signed a standard player agreement with the Silvertips ahead of the 2021-22 season. By signing the contract, Grouette is now guaranteed a WHL Scholarship for one year and he earns an additional year of free schooling for every year that he plays in the WHL.
“It’s an amazing feeling, it’s something I’ve been working really hard for since I was drafted,” said Grouette. “Everett is a great organization and I’m really happy that I was able to put pen to paper.”
One day after signing, Grouette will get his first taste of preseason WHL action as he suits up in Friday night’s game against the Spokane Cheifs. Everett will also play on Saturday against Tri-City and on Sunday, Grouette battles Ryder Thompson and the Portland Winterhawks. In seven games last year with the Parkland U18 Rangers, Grouette notched two assists for a team that was 6-1 and on top of the league when the season ended in November.
“Really looking forward to putting on the Silvertips jersey for the first time and getting some ice-time,” said Grouette. “It’s all about proving myself and doing whatever I can to help the team win. It’s going to be a special night.”
Kyan also believes that this is just the beginning. The young man from Dauphin knows becoming an everyday impact player in the WHL is not an easy task but it’s one that he’s looking forward to working towards.
“I’m on the ice with these guys every day and in the gym, I have to battle for every inch here,” ended Grouette. “Nothing is going to be handed to me, I have to earn every single minute.”
Fun fact:
Grouette certainly isn’t the first Parkland Ranger to sign with the Everett Silvertips. Connor Dewar played four full seasons with Everett from 2015 to 2019 after he was drafted in the fifth round in the 2014 WHL draft. He was named to the WHL Western Conference’s first all-star team in the 2018-19 season, one that he produced 81 points in just 59 regular-season games and he added another 10 points in nine playoff games.
Dewar has played the past two seasons with the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League, last year he scored 12 times in 32 games and added 11 assists. Dewar is set to return to Iowa this season.