Despite rumors, Grosenick returns to RoughRiders net

Just so you know, Troy Grosenick has heard the rumors. Every single one.

And he's not creeped out.

“We're in the spotlight,” the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders goaltender said Wednesday during his team's media day at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. “People obviously care a lot about the RoughRiders, which, overall, is a good thing.”

So let's take these in order.

Word circulated this summer that Grosenick, a second-year Rider from suburban Brookfield, Wis., was changing positions, simply throwing away his pads. Even his housing mom called him to see if it was true.

“I think that one started off as a joke, actually,” Grosenick said. “It was when I was leaving after last season, and someone asked me if I was coming back. I said something like, ‘Yeah, I'm coming back, but next year I'm going to be a defenseman.' I don't think the person realized I was joking about that.”

There was the rumor he didn't like playing in Cedar Rapids and wanted to go elsewhere. Also absolutely not true.

“I've always wanted to play here,” Grosenick said. “There's definitely no other junior team I want to play for. I can't imagine playing somewhere else than Cedar Rapids. I love everything about it: The Stable, Coach (Mark) Carlson, all the guys, my housing family.”

Another weird one cropped up last week. Despite practice being well under way in late September, this one had him going to play college hockey this year.

Nope. Grosenick hasn't even made an oral commitment.

“The funny story there is that I actually got a call from my dad, who said ‘You know when you accept a college scholarship, you're supposed to tell your family,'” he said.

What we do know as truth is Grosenick, 20, will surely be “the guy” in net for the Riders, who begin the USHL regular season Saturday night at Des Moines. He has the experience ... and the desire, it sounds like.

Rookies Matt Hemingway and Eric Rohrkemper also are with the team.

“Nothing's guaranteed or anything,” said Grosenick, 13-5-4 with a 2.33 goals against average last season. “I still have to go out and work hard. Obviously, it's a little different situation when you've got one returning goalie, and that's me. But I have to go out and play my game and perform.”

Grosenick said he trained hard this summer, even spending time in Minnesota with Riders goaltender coach Pete Samargia. They worked a lot on mental aspects of the position.

Combine that with a USHL season under his belt, and big things are anticipated.

“He's looked great in practice, even better in some of our (preseason) games,” said Riders winger Eric Robinson. “I've felt like he's got more confidence, a little more swagger. ... We all have a lot of confidence in Troy, and having confidence in your goalie is huge.”

Grosenick was sharp in the preseason, going 4-0 with a 1.71 goals against average and .933 saves percentage.

“Back in the day, like the first two years I played hockey, I played forward,” he said. “Then I guess my life-changing experience came. Our goalie had to go on vacation when I was playing Mite. I decided to jump in there one game. We lost like 5-0 or something like that, but the bug hit me. The next year, that goalie moved up to Squirts and I was still in Mites. I decided I'd give it a shot.

“I've stuck with it ever since.”

Rumors and all.