Gratton article

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http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NA...d=1052251718073

Injuries part of Gratton's makeup

'He wants to be where the puck is,' coach says of Bulldog

captain's style of play

By Garry McKay

The Hamilton Spectator

The characteristics that make

Benoit Gratton such a good

hockey player may also be a

contributor to his injury

problems.

The Bulldogs captain may

return to the Hamilton lineup

tomorrow when the Dogs host

the St. John's Maple Leafs after

missing almost a month with a

concussion.

In the past two seasons he's also

suffered a serious hand injury, a

separated shoulder and a

painful neck condition that's

probably related to the

shoulder problem.

"He plays the game all out, 100 per cent," says Bulldogs'

head coach Doug Jarvis. "He wants to be where the

puck is. He wants to have the puck and he wants to be

in the action and when you're in those scenarios, there

are things that can happen.

"But that's what makes him an effective player, his

tenacity and wanting to have the puck."

Those are also the qualities that have resulted in fans

around the American Hockey League voting him to

the starting lineup for Canada at the league's annual

all-star game.

Last year, when the game was in Portland, Gratton

was injured and couldn't go.

Gratton very much wants to take part in this year's

festivities, which go Sunday and Monday in Grand

Rapids, Mich.

"Hopefully, I'll play Saturday, that will be a game-time

decision, but I'm going to the all-star game for sure,"

Gratton said yesterday.

"The all-star game isn't usually as demanding as a

regular game. There's really no hitting, so it's not as

intense."

Gratton will be joined in Grand Rapids by Jozef Balej

and Tomas Plekanec, who will play for the PlanetUSA

stars.

"I played once before and it was a lot of fun," Gratton

pointed out. "Last year, I missed it and this year, I almost

missed it again. It's a good experience to go and meet

the best players in the league. It's a good event to be

part of."

Gratton skated at practice yesterday and says he has

no symptoms of the concussion.

He's hoping to use the all-star game as a springboard

to a strong, injury free, finish to the season.

And he has good reason. His contract with the

Montreal Canadiens is up at the end of this season

and with the uncertainty of whether the National

Hockey League will even play next year, Gratton has

to think about his future.

"We'll see after the season what my options are," he

says. "Maybe Europe or maybe the WHA or maybe the

NHL.

"I want to put up some numbers the last part of the

season but more important are the playoffs."

The Bulldogs are edging closer to getting most of the

injured and ailing players back.

Gratton, of course is day to day. That's the same status

as Andrew Archer and Jimmie Olvestad, both of

whom have the flu, and Chris Higgins, who has a

concussion.

Gordie Dwyer (infected elbow) could be back some

time next week.

Goaltender J.F. Damphousse (broken thumb) will be a

while yet.

* The Bulldogs have announced a major contribution

to the McMaster Children's Hospital.

The hockey club is donating $20,000 from last year's

second annual Charity Golf Classic to the hospital.

The club also announced that the eighth annual TD

Canada Trust Smiles on Ice game will be played

Sunday, Feb. 15, at Copps Coliseum when the Dogs

take on the Manitoba Moose.

Proceeds from that game will also go to the McMaster

Children's Hospital.

Tickets are available at area TD Canada Trust

branches, the Copps Coliseum box office and at all

Ticketmaster locations.