Outcasts Alumni Enter the Division 1 College Ranks

The 2010 College Hockey season will serve as the debut for two former Outcasts players as they become the first in the clubs history to play Division 1 College Ice Hockey. Come this fall Matt Grogan, a regular in net for Outcasts teams throughout the 2003-2005 seasons, will be seen in goal for the University of Connecticut Husky’s. Joining him in the Division 1 ranks next year will be Jon Bobb, a member of the inaugural Outcasts team back in 2003 along with other guest appearances over the years. Jon made his commitment to West Point in 2008, will take the ice in 2010 wearing the Black and Gold of the Army Knights.

Both players began their hockey couriers playing inline hockey. Jon Bobb first took to the sport at the age of 10 in the house leagues of the long gone, but fondly remembered, Chandler Sports Spectrum. From there he quickly progressed onto the Spectrum’s local and regional travel program the Gear Drive. At the age of 12 John began playing ice hockey in conjunction with Inline. Travel Ice coach’s quickly recruited Jon into their programs. Over the next 6 years he progressed through the local and regional AAA ranks making one appearance at the USA Hockey Nationals in 2004 with the U16 DYHA Firebirds. In 2007, after his stint with the Firebirds, Jon moved on to Dallas where he joined the number one nationally ranked U18 AAA Dallas Junior Stars. Jon, now 20 years old, has spent the last two years playing in the North American Hockey League. With his age eligibility expired, the coaching staff of the Knights feel that the two years of Tier 1 Junior A hockey has prepared Jon to join the team in the fall.

Matt Grogan’s story is not far off from Jon’s. At the age of 11 Matt started off on the pavement in his driveway and quickly fell in love with the position of goaltender. Not long after strapping on the pads for the first time, Matt joined the leagues at the Chandler Sports Spectrum, moving on to East Valley Inline after the Spectrum closed their doors. After only one season at EVI, Matt was asked to be their 12U “Desert Dogs” travel team goalie. Matt spent two years with the Desert Dogs and Rink Bandits programs where he posted very impressive numbers in the A.I.H.A. becoming the top goaltender in his division every year he participated. Like Jon, Matt discovered ice hockey while earning his accolades in roller and played both games simultaneously. After 2 years in the Chandler Polar Bears organization, Matt left Arizona in search of a team to bring him to the next level. 2005 found Matt in Indianapolis where he spent two seasons with Indiana Ice Midget AAA program. In 2007 Matt began his climb into the JR A rankings with the Okatoke Oilers in the AJHL and ending in 2009 with the Bismarck Bobbcats of the NAHL. This fall, as Grogan ages out of Junior A, he will find himself at the last stop on the path he laid out for himself 5 years ago; a spot on an NCAA Division 1 Hockey Team. The University of Connecticut will become Matt’s home for the next 4 years.

Although Jon and Matt put roller hockey aside to achieve their goals in the ice hockey world, both will tell you how much they enjoyed playing it, and how much it helped them to get where they are today. Neither one has turned their back on inline hockey. Over the years since they were active members of the Outcasts program, both have stayed in close touch and  check in multiple times during the year to see how the current crop of up and comers in the Outcasts program are progressing.  Matt can be seen working with current Outcasts goalies during his holiday trips home and in the post season summer months. Jon too looks for chances to lace up his inline skates whenever he comes home. Jon and Matt are just the first in what promises to be a long line of talented Outcasts players who will make their mark on the sports of both Ice and Inline hockey.