began playing hockey at the age
of 10 as a forward but quickly
switched to defense where
he showed an affinity for the
position. Coming from a French-
speaking family, his first coach
had to translate everything from
English to French in order to
keep him in the game. He started
off at Champlain Community
Centre and then moved with
his family to Lorette where he
played for the Comets. When
he played for the Eastman
Selects in 2012-13 and 2013-
14, he was part of a team with
Tampa Bay Lightning first-round
draft pick Brett Howden.
Gravel credits Calvin Bugyit,
the coach of the Eastman
Selects, as the one coach who
taught him about the game
both on and off the ice.
“He really gave me a great
perspective on life,” Gravel said.
“
THIS YEAR IT SEEMS
EVERYTHING I TOUCH IS
GOING IN THE NET
“Both as a player and as a person.”
In the last edition of Game On,
Charleswood Captain Dylan Zeke
named Gravel the best player
in the league. Nico’s response
says a lot about his modesty.
“That’s very nice of him,”
Gravel said. “I don’t agree with
that statement. There are a lot
of great players in this league.
To be honest I think he (Zeke)
is the most complete player in
the league. He’s incredible the
way he covers so much ice.”
At press time, Gravel was in
the Top 3 in MMJHL scoring.
Not bad for a defenseman.
“This year it seems everything
I touch is going in the net,” he
”
laughed. “Right now it’s working,
but what is most important is
that our team finds success -- not
just me. This year everything
I’m giving my team mates is
turning into an opportunity
and that’s really great.”
Gravel is impressed with
the direction the Railer
Express has taken.
“Our coach, Derek Gagnon,
has always emphasized defence
first and then offence, especially
in our own end,” Gravel said.
“It’s really paying off and our
transition game and movement
through the neutral zone has
improved and actually has
become our team’s strength. He’s
got us motivated in a big way and
the guys have really bought in.
“We have a good mix of
players. We’re not big everywhere
and we’re not small everywhere,
but we stand our ground. I
remember in previous years we’d
be scared to go into a place like
Stonewall. We didn’t want to play
the Jets. But this year just like
we did earlier in the season, we
showed them we can take the hits
and battle back. That’s important.
This is a physical league, but we
also have the speed to compete
with teams like Charleswood.
“I’m re ally proud of this
organization,” he continued.
“Especially the volunteer work
at the local food bank and the
skates the guys do with the young
kids at various hockey camps
in Transcona. I play on a really
good team that is made up of
a great group of people.” ❍
WE’D LOVE TO
MEAT YOU
WE’RE IN YOUR
NEIGHBOURHOOD
590 St. Marys Rd
204-233-5409
2-2425 Pembina Hwy
204-269-4442
1867 Grant Ave
204-487-2666
7-925 Headmater Row
204-663-7358
WWW.MILLERSMEATS.COM
3 8 | G AME O N | D EC EM BER 2017