Seth Griffith Discusses Team Canada, the London Knights, and the NHL Draft
Seth Griffith of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
From representing Team Canada at the World Under-18 Championships, to playing a starring role for the London Knights in the OHL, it has been a banner year for Wallaceburg’s Seth Griffith. Add to that the potential of being selected in the upcoming NHL draft, and it’s easy to see that 2011 could turn out to be an unforgettable season for Griffith.
“It’s hard to explain,” said Griffith about his opportunity to play for Team Canada in Germany this spring. “You get goosebumps every time you put on the jersey. It was an awesome experience and I’m happy I was lucky enough to get picked for the team.”
With the London Knights this season, Griffith was counted on as an offensive specialist scoring nearly a point per game; however, with Canada, head coach Mike Williamson put Griffith into a checking line role, a challenge Griffith welcomed and feels will benefit him next season.
“It was a lot different. For the Knights I’m the offensive guy, playing for Team Canada there was a lot of very skilled guys. You want to win a gold medal whenever you play for Canada, and you’ll do whatever it takes. I just went out there and kept things simple, got pucks deep, and played the role to the best of my ability.”
With next season in mind already, Griffith plans to use the lessons he learned with Canada to improve his two way game with the Knights, “I’ve been an offensive guy all my life, so I’m going to try to play more of a complete game at both ends. With the Hunters, you have to take care of your own end; I want to play a full game.”
With that complete game, Griffith hopes he, and his London Knights can build on what he felt was a successful second half to the season following a plethora of trades that changed the landscape of the Knights’ roster,
“I thought our team really stepped up when all the trades happened. Our team came together as young as we are and everybody brought something to the table, especially in the playoffs against Owen Sound. I think we gave them (Owen Sound) a good run and I was proud of everybody in the room. Hopefully we can make an even better run next year.”
For Griffith, personal playoff success has been easy to come by as he was a key contributor for the Knights as an underager following his breakout season with St. Mary’s Junior B last season, and this year, led the Knights in scoring during their first round series,
“When playoffs come, at the end of the day the trophy is waiting,” said Griffith. “I try to elevate my game to the best of my ability and I try to work my hardest every shift. When I work my hardest we’ll have a better chance to win.”
When it came to the NHL draft, Griffith simply said he tries not to think about it, or let it get into his head, and rather remains focused on what he has to do on the ice, “Hopefully I get drafted, but anything can happen, and I’ll keep working hard on my game either way.”
Drafted or not, Seth Griffith remains focused on becoming a better hockey player and reaching new heights in the OHL next season. That process has already started for Griffith, as he is planning for an offseason of getting stronger and faster,
“I’m going to work on my foot speed, improving my overall game, and try to get stronger so I can get to the next level.”
Whether he’s wearing the Green and Gold of the London Knights, or the Red and White with Team Canada, and whether or not he hears his name called in the NHL draft this summer, Seth Griffith knows the journey is just beginning, and that from here on out, the success of his hockey career rests in the hands of only one person, himself.
“Playing in the NHL is my dream, and I’m going to work as hard as I can to get there.”