Chatham-Kent’s Grayson Ladd, Making CK Proud

Chatham-Kent sends athletes across Ontario, Canada, and the globe each year to compete athletically. Sponsored by baCK to Chatham-Kent, we’ll be featuring local athletes who have left Chatham-Kent, and are proudly representing our community. We hope many of these athletic ambassadors for our community someday come baCK to call Chatham-Kent home.

This week, we feature Kent Bridge’s Grayson Ladd. Ladd recently completed his third season in the Ontario Hockey League. He is a defenceman for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, and was the 13th overall pick in the OHL Draft after starring for his hometown Chatham-Kent Cyclones.

Here are Grayson’s responses to our baCK to Chatham-Kent athletes interview:

1. Can you describe what support you’ve felt from your hometown/Chatham-Kent while you’ve been away?

I’ve always had great support growing up in all sports no matter where I played. My parents and sister have obviously been great with supporting especially being so close now playing in Windsor but they have always supported me wherever I’ve been plying hockey. My whole family has been great with supporting me. I know when our team is on the road a lot of times my parents will have the game on tv at our house and my aunts, uncles and grandparents come over and watch the game on tv. If they can’t catch the game at my parents house, they are always listening on the radio so my family always seems to find a way to support me. A lot of family friends also reach out and send texts or contact me through social media and that’s really nice knowing people take time to ask how I am and support me.

2. What do you enjoy about coming home to visit?

Coming home is always nice especially right after the season. Home has always been a place where I can relax and not worry about hockey so much and just catch up with all my family and friend especially after a long season. I always love coming home back to my house just outside of Kent Bridge because it is a nice break from living in a busy city and being able to spend time with family and enjoy the country life.

3. Would you consider making Chatham-Kent home again some day?

Chatham-Kent will always be home to me. I have taken pride and been proud to have come from a small community and being from a small town has helped shaped me into the person I am today. I haven’t really thought about where I would like to live when I’m older quite yet, it will probably depend on where hockey goes for myself. I would love to move back to Chatham-Kent when I’m older just because of the connections I have and the relationships I have built over the years. Chatham-Kent is filled with hard working people who take pride in what they do and will help you out with anything that you need.

4. What advice would you give to young athletes baCK home in Chatham-Kent?

I think the advice that I would give young athletes back home would be just to have fun with the sport you’re playing and always be working your hardest. I think looking back at when I was younger I always remember the relationships I have made with all my teammates and all the memories we have made and I think if young athletes can enjoy that time of their life then it will be even more fun for them because being a young athlete is the best time of your life. My last piece of advice would be to always stay humble and to always make sure to thank your mom and dad because they do so much for young athletes that go unnoticed.