Graham brings US experience to D-line

---

The Melbourne Ice welcomed back charismatic defenceman Todd Graham for the Melbourne Derby Saturday night.

Graham’s mid-year return has had a positive effect on the team according to Ice coach Brent Laver, who said there were good vibes in Thursday’s training session.

“He’s just such a charismatic guy,” Laver said. “He’s a magnet to the boys; [they] love having him in the team.”

Conflicting college and US hockey schedules mean Graham must miss the opening weeks of the Australian Ice Hockey League season.

In fact, in 2012, the year of Graham’s sole participation in the Ice’s ‘three-peat’, Graham flew back to especially to play in the decider.

Arriving back in Melbourne on Thursday morning, Graham was quick to get back onto local ice – attending training the same night and immediately selected for Saturday’s line-up.

A leading player and standing at 6’5”, Graham is a serious contender on the ice.

His 2015 debut was marred by a single penalty for interference but Graham struck back with a well-earned goal- his first for the AIHL season.

With full forward momentum and taking advantage of a Johansson decoy, Graham slipped past Fraser Carson and found the back of the net.

“It’s pretty special to come back and score a goal,” he said.

With only a year left of college where he is studying a bachelor of Business Marketing at Buffalo State College, Graham can’t wait to start the next chapter and plans to catch the end of the season in the minor leagues.

After bouncing around the states for nine years, Graham’s skills on the rink were noticed by a college league.

Buffalo noticed the potential in the young Australian, who was playing for Connecticut’s Hartford Junior Wolf Pack at the time.

Similar coaching styles between the junior and college teams meant an easy transition for Graham, now twenty-four.

“Great off-ice experience, great on-ice experience,” he said, praising Buffalo State, who is fifth in the SUNYAC standings.  “A lot of guys go places out of the league. It was a no brainer.”

American college hockey is a world apart from the Australian league. Played on NHL sized rinks, smaller than the Olympic sized sheet at the Icehouse, the game is noticeably rougher.

“It’s a lot more in your face. College hockey is a lot more crash and bang,” Graham said. “I do like playing over here. It’s a lot more open.”

Graham’s fluidity and poise on the ice is notably influenced by North American hockey and is being likened to that of experienced imports.

“He plays and acts way above his years,” Laver added.

Graham has developed on-ice leadership qualities as well as offering the Ice the valuable experience of playing North American hockey. However, he said that he strongly values the years he’s spent with the Ice, the club he debuted for as a 15-year old in 2006.

“I can’t say enough good about these guys,” Graham said. “We’re a family off the ice and that translates on the ice.”

Graham has high hopes for the hockey culture in Melbourne and applauds the relationship between the two Melbourne teams who turned in another classic.

“The derby in Melbourne, it’s getting more people in,” he said. “More people to come and see it, come experience it and especially encourage more people to come and play.”

Although late to the season, Graham’s solid performance on Saturday night can only prove that his overseas experience is a valuable asset to his career and can only mean good things for the Melbourne Ice in 2015.