Graham getting his game back in gear

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Graham’s success came after being hurt in the opening game of back-to-back tilts with the Portland Winterhawks in late October.

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“They say confidence is key, and it looks like something that would be easy to get, but it really isn’t”.

Speaking from experience, the talkative Graham went scoreless in the opening ten games of the season before finding the back of the net on November 11th against Spokane.

“Every night having to show up is not easy”, Graham admitted. “Being consistent has gotten easier having been in the league longer. Just piecing my game together, one shift at a time and one game at a time will help me become more consistent.”

RocketFAN had to ask the question. When Graham is on his game and playing at the optimum level, what should an observer notice in his overall game?

“I am skating fast. I am laying hits and I am forcing teams to turn over pucks”, Graham added. “I am making solid plays out of the d-zone, and that is what will lead to the offensive chances.”

A very unselfish player, Graham could use more greed in his game. The Kelowna resident’s season high is a modest four shots on net against Tri-City and Spokane, which is a clear indication he passes the puck more than he shoots it.

“Lately it has been coming along a little bit more”, Graham says sheepishly, knowing deep down he can up his shot totals. “I’ve been trying to have more of that shoot first mentality, and it has been paying off”.

Graham admits while playing minor hockey, he was often someone on a two-on-one that would pass rather than shoot.

“Watching NHL games, the top players believe in themselves, so I need to believe in myself more and don’t doubt my shot. If the play is there, make it, but if not, just get it to the net.”

Graham, who played in his 100th career WHL game December 2nd in Spokane, continues to evolve both his mentally and physical game.

“It is a lot easier to look past the little mistakes and keep trucking along when things are going well,” Graham said. “Mally [Kris Mallette] has said as long as you work hard, he can get over mistakes being made, so that is nice to have in the back of your head knowing that it won’t cost you ice time or something like that”.

Graham and the Rockets visit the Lethbridge Hurricanes this evening in game two of an Central Division road trip before the Christmas break.

“Everyone has a role. AC [Andrew Cristall] puts up crazy points, but guys have to go out there and win faceoffs, make clean passes out of the zone, and some have to stick up for those players. If everyone plays to their strengths, we’ve got a pretty good team”

104-7 – The Lizard – has the pre-game show from Lethbridge at 5:35 pm Pacific and the play-by-play at 6:05 pm.