Last season was a tale of two halves for Will Graber and Dartmouth.
The Big Green started 2-8-1, then an upset win at Denver in mid-December propelled them to a strong second semester. Dartmouth went 14-9-1 over its last 24 games, almost getting to the ECAC Hockey semifinals, but fell just short at Harvard.
Graber’s year mirrored that of his team. He had just a goal and three assists through the first 11 games, but the tables turned with a goal in that 5-4 win over the Pioneers. He potted eight goals and added 14 assists over the last 24 games.
Now, a year older and more experienced, the junior forward hopes to build on his success to push Dartmouth to the ECAC Hockey Championships in Lake Placid, N.Y., for the first time since 2016.
“We want to build on what we did last year and bring that throughout the year," Graber said. "We had a slow start last year. We struggled to score, but we hit Denver and we flipped a switch. We’re a bit older this year. Hopefully we can play with more freedom and more confidence this year. The last 20 games or so last year, we were one of the best teams in the ECAC. The biggest thing this year is to be more consistent.”
Graber went from 19 points as a freshman to 26 points as a sophomore. While it was only a seven-point climb, 2017-18 represented somewhat of a coming out party for Graber, who hails from Broomfield, Colo.
“It was a breakthrough year for him last year,” said Bob Gaudet, who's in his 22nd season behind the bench at his alma mater.
Graber, at 6-foot-5, is a terrific skater who plays a complete, 200-foot game. He’s still filling out his frame as a late bloomer and should continue to improve over the next two seasons.
“He’s such a versatile guy because he can play all four positions," Gaudette said. "He’s getting better and better. He’s been fabulous in practice. He has such good work ethic and compete level. He wants to be very good. He’s still growing."
The 22-year-old has a long stride that allows him to cover a lot of ground on the ice. With his hockey sense, he makes his linemates better. He uses his size and reach to protect pucks down low and can unleash a shot with zip.
“He’s got great feet for a guy who is 6-5; his foot speed and skating,” Gaudette said. “He can shoot the puck. He has a long reach. He’s strong on pucks. He can pivot and angle somebody with good stick positioning. He’s a really good player and he’s smart.”
Graber still has room to fill out, which should give him a chance to be dominant below the circles and be more explosive.
“Continuing to develop my skating, I was able to facilitate my growth over the last two years,” Graber said when asked what helped elevate his game last season.
“I’ve always prided myself on that," he continued. "I tried to get stronger and added a step to my game. I’ve been a tall player for a while, but I’m trying to develop and use my reach and size on the rush and in the corners. I was a late developer physically."
Graber centers left wing Shane Sellar and right wing Quin Foreman, a Norwood, Mass., native who came up through the Boston Advantage program. The trio was united for the Denver series and flourished under a patient coaching staff.
“It took a little bit of time, but I think we have a pretty good feel for where each other are on the ice," Graber said. "For the most part, we want to play a similar style, especially down low. We want to control play, wear teams down and then be a little more creative above to make plays on top of the circle."
While Graber is certainly garnering attention from NHL scouts, he’s enjoying his time at Dartmouth away from the ice. An engineering major, he's fallen in love with all the Hanover, N.H., school has to offer.
"I was apprehensive about what the school aspect was going to be and where I was going to be in the country, but I love it,” Graber said. “The people are fantastic. It’s an incredibly diverse group. It challenges you every day. Classes are hard, but you learn a lot. It’s a beautiful place.”
While playing Division 1 hockey isn’t conducive to finding time away from the rink, Graber and teammate Ryan Blankemeier have participated in a Dartmouth tradition the past two summers before classes kicked off.
“There’s a program called first-year trips," Graber said. "We led freshman trips the past two years. It helps kids transition from high school to college and see the outdoors of New Hampshire. It’s nice to give back.”
With his size and skating ability, Graber has a future in pro hockey. But by making the most of his Dartmouth experience, his post-hockey career looks promising as well.
