By Emily Polglaze
JANESVILLE, WI — The Janesville Jets, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), are pleased to announce that defenseman Lordanthony Grissom has committed to play NCAA Division III hockey for the Aurora University Spartans in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association conference.
Grissom (6’4/210) makes the jump to college hockey after two seasons with the Jets. This past year the assistant captain came in second among defensemen in points for the regular season with 22, four goals and 18 assists. As a veteran, he helped lead the Jets to their nine Robertson Cup playoff games, in which he tallied three assists.
“LA is a fantastic human being and we’re all thrilled to see him announce a commitment,” Janesville assistant coach Kyle Forte, who managed defensemen last season, said. “He’s one of the best defensemen we’ve ever had and leads by example every day, every shift. Aurora is getting one heck of a hockey player.”
Grissom also skated in the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament in February with teammates Cullen Munson and Adam Roeder, who have both recently made Division I commitments to the University of Minnesota and Northern Michigan University, respectively.
LA said that Aurora checked more than just the athletic box for him when it came to making his college decision, which includes a short commute from his native Detroit.
“I chose Aurora because their marketing program has been one of the top programs in the country,” he said. “I like the small campus and it’s close to home for me.”
The Spartans are heading into their third year of NCHA competition, previously being an independent Division III team. They wrapped up last season with a 4-19-2 record. Head coach Jason Bloomingburg is a former USPHL Coach of the Year and played Division I hockey at Wayne State University in Detroit, where he was an assistant captain and Hobey Baker Award finalist.
Prior to his arrival to Janesville, Grissom played with the Little Caesars AAA team, his high school University Liggett, and broke into the NAHL with the Keystone Ice Miners in the 2014-15 season, where he scored 14 points and was named to the NAHL All-North Division Rookie Team.
A consistent and commanding leader on the blue line, Grissom was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year honor by the Jets twice, in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
“Obviously as an alternate captain and as the team MVP, LA was a leader on a great team this year. He’s a goaltender’s dream defenseman,” Forte said. “He blocks shots and clears the crease, and he’s skilled with the puck, too.”
LA also proved his value as a teammate on and off the ice by receiving the Most Valuable Player award for this past season, which was voted on by the skaters. He said he hopes to bring a positive attitude and his leadership with him to the next level.
“The Jets helped me learn how to trust, build a brotherhood, and sacrifice everything for the guy next to me,” he said.
Aurora’s young program is still building, but LA is thinking big for his time there.
Coming off of a final four run in the NAHL, he still has his eyes on the prize. Asked what his biggest goal is for his college hockey career, ‘To win a national championship.”
Contact the Janesville Jets’ front office at (608) 752-JETS, or go to www.janesvillejets.com for offseason news, including player camps, community outreach, season ticket information, and sponsorship opportunities. Stay connected to the Jets through Facebook (/janesvillehockey) and Twitter (@JanesvilleJets1).