Boston College Athletics
Photo by: John Quackenbos
Grieves Buoyed by Confidence
October 09, 2015 | Women's Hockey
Senior forward has played off words of advice last spring
It took a meeting and a few words to propel Meghan Grieves.
A senior forward for the women's hockey team, Grieves had spent her first three seasons at Boston College as a "journeyman" according to head coach Katie Crowley.
She jumped out to a hot start as a freshman, scoring six points in her first eight games. She was on the first line with Alex Carpenter and fellow freshman Haley Skarupa. But in just a few games, she was on the fourth line – a spot she'd see a lot of during the next two-and-a-half years.
Her 8-point freshman season gave way to a 1-point sophomore campaign. As a junior on the record-breaking 2014-15 squad – one that established new program marks for points, goals, assists, and defense – Grieves saw more time with the fourth line regularly rolling. With 8 goals, 4 assists and 12 points, Grieves posted her best season to date and played regular shifts throughout the Hockey East and NCAA tournaments, including solid play in the Frozen Four meeting with cross-town rival Harvard.
When the season closed, the Eagles' coaching staff held meetings with each player. In her meeting, Grieves got a highly encouraging signal from Crowley and associate head coach Courtney Kennedy.
"My meeting at the end of the year last year with the coaches was super positive," Grieves recounted. "I remember distinctly [Crowley] told me, 'You put money in the bank. You put yourself in a really good position for next year.'"
Grieves took Crowley's words to heart and used it as motivation as she prepared for her senior season.
"Just her saying that - and the encouragement from my teammates throughout the summer – I went through each workout, each skate with that mentality, that I had 'put money in the bank' and it was up to me to go into the year confident and ready to get after it," Grieves said.
Confidence proved key.
As summer progressed, "It was more a confident mindset," Grieves said. "I became confident in what I knew I could do. I think the past three years that was something that took a while for me to learn: the confidence piece. And once I got that, I approached this year completely different, with a more positive mindset. I was confident in my abilities and I knew that if I had that confidence I could make things happen."
Preseason workouts, captains' practices and finally full team sessions progressed. Grieves continued to work hard, put in the effort – buoyed by the coaches' encouragement last March.
Lines were announced before the Eagles' exhibition game against Guelph on Sept. 25 and Grieves' hard work paid off.
Grieves wasn't in her customary spot on the fourth line. Instead, she was the left wing on the second line – centered by former Hockey East rookie of the year and U.S. National Team hopeful Andie Anastos. On the right wing? Skarupa, the nation's third-leading scorer in 2014-15 and member of the U.S. national team.
"My initial reaction was that I was grateful for the opportunity," Grieves said. "I worked hard and stuck with it, so coming into senior year – my last chance to prove myself and show what I can do – it was cool to see my name on one of the first three lines … it felt good to be able to see myself in a spot where I was able to play (consistently)."
Crowley's confidence in Grieves was rewarded. The Cary, N.C., product scored a goal in the Eagles' exhibition win, and recorded an assist in each of the team's first two regular-season games, wins over Minnesota Duluth last weekend.
"Meghan has had a good preseason and she ended the year well last year," Crowley said. "I think it carried over to this year and I've been very happy with the way she played – in the exhibition game and these two games. It's exciting to see from a kid who has been a journeyman for us and worked her tail off to get to this point. I think she's done a great job."
Grieves isn't taking her increased playing time and responsibility for granted.
"Just having a more active role this year and being that 'impact player,' where you know when you're stepping on the ice you have an opportunity to make a difference has been awesome," Grieves said. "And you really feel like when you go out there, you feel like you're earning your spot on the team."
Known for being one of the more footloose and fancy-free members of the team – literally, she could be spotted dancing around or singing at any moment – Grieves is staying focused on her on-ice play as the Eagles' schedule progresses.
"After working really hard for three years and not necessarily getting the ice time that most people would want, in your senior to have the opportunity to go out there and play a regular shift, it's kind of hard to explain," Grieves admitted. "It's fun."
A senior forward for the women's hockey team, Grieves had spent her first three seasons at Boston College as a "journeyman" according to head coach Katie Crowley.
She jumped out to a hot start as a freshman, scoring six points in her first eight games. She was on the first line with Alex Carpenter and fellow freshman Haley Skarupa. But in just a few games, she was on the fourth line – a spot she'd see a lot of during the next two-and-a-half years.
Her 8-point freshman season gave way to a 1-point sophomore campaign. As a junior on the record-breaking 2014-15 squad – one that established new program marks for points, goals, assists, and defense – Grieves saw more time with the fourth line regularly rolling. With 8 goals, 4 assists and 12 points, Grieves posted her best season to date and played regular shifts throughout the Hockey East and NCAA tournaments, including solid play in the Frozen Four meeting with cross-town rival Harvard.
When the season closed, the Eagles' coaching staff held meetings with each player. In her meeting, Grieves got a highly encouraging signal from Crowley and associate head coach Courtney Kennedy.
"My meeting at the end of the year last year with the coaches was super positive," Grieves recounted. "I remember distinctly [Crowley] told me, 'You put money in the bank. You put yourself in a really good position for next year.'"
Grieves took Crowley's words to heart and used it as motivation as she prepared for her senior season.
"Just her saying that - and the encouragement from my teammates throughout the summer – I went through each workout, each skate with that mentality, that I had 'put money in the bank' and it was up to me to go into the year confident and ready to get after it," Grieves said.
Confidence proved key.
As summer progressed, "It was more a confident mindset," Grieves said. "I became confident in what I knew I could do. I think the past three years that was something that took a while for me to learn: the confidence piece. And once I got that, I approached this year completely different, with a more positive mindset. I was confident in my abilities and I knew that if I had that confidence I could make things happen."
Preseason workouts, captains' practices and finally full team sessions progressed. Grieves continued to work hard, put in the effort – buoyed by the coaches' encouragement last March.
Lines were announced before the Eagles' exhibition game against Guelph on Sept. 25 and Grieves' hard work paid off.
Grieves wasn't in her customary spot on the fourth line. Instead, she was the left wing on the second line – centered by former Hockey East rookie of the year and U.S. National Team hopeful Andie Anastos. On the right wing? Skarupa, the nation's third-leading scorer in 2014-15 and member of the U.S. national team.
"My initial reaction was that I was grateful for the opportunity," Grieves said. "I worked hard and stuck with it, so coming into senior year – my last chance to prove myself and show what I can do – it was cool to see my name on one of the first three lines … it felt good to be able to see myself in a spot where I was able to play (consistently)."
Crowley's confidence in Grieves was rewarded. The Cary, N.C., product scored a goal in the Eagles' exhibition win, and recorded an assist in each of the team's first two regular-season games, wins over Minnesota Duluth last weekend.
"Meghan has had a good preseason and she ended the year well last year," Crowley said. "I think it carried over to this year and I've been very happy with the way she played – in the exhibition game and these two games. It's exciting to see from a kid who has been a journeyman for us and worked her tail off to get to this point. I think she's done a great job."
Grieves isn't taking her increased playing time and responsibility for granted.
"Just having a more active role this year and being that 'impact player,' where you know when you're stepping on the ice you have an opportunity to make a difference has been awesome," Grieves said. "And you really feel like when you go out there, you feel like you're earning your spot on the team."
Known for being one of the more footloose and fancy-free members of the team – literally, she could be spotted dancing around or singing at any moment – Grieves is staying focused on her on-ice play as the Eagles' schedule progresses.
"After working really hard for three years and not necessarily getting the ice time that most people would want, in your senior to have the opportunity to go out there and play a regular shift, it's kind of hard to explain," Grieves admitted. "It's fun."
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