Chester, N.J., native Grant Jozefek is soaring at Northeastern with more ice time

Chester, N.J., native Grant Jozefek is Northeastern's leading scorer. (Jim Pierce/Northeastern)

Grant Jozefek has answered the call to step up for a Northeastern squad that was faced with filling the void of losing its top three scorers from a year ago.

With Hobey Baker Award winner Adam Gaudette, Dylan Sikura, and Nolan Stevens all moving onto pro hockey, there was going to be more ice time and an increased chance to score for some of the Huskies’ returning players.

“There’s more opportunity when guys like that are leaving a school. Going into the year, the coaches wanted guys to step up. I wanted to step up and be a big part of the team this year,” said Jozefek, a junior from Chester, N.J.

Jozefek scored just seven goals and nine assists as a sophomore after a goal and two assists as a freshman. That was a far cry from the numbers he put up in his final season of junior hockey with the USHL’s Lincoln Stars.

“I think it’s been a confidence thing. The past couple of years I was plagued with injuries so my confidence was down. I didn’t feel like the same player I was when I had my big year in Lincoln. I feel like I’ve finally gotten over my injuries. I feel more like myself,” said Jozefek.

Following the conclusion of last season, Jozefek heard from his coaching staff that they would have higher expectations for his final two years in a Northeastern uniform.

“Going into the summer after my exit interview I wanted to push to get stronger and faster. I wanted to come in and be ready to go. Fortunately I was given an opportunity to have a big year,” Jozefek explained.

“They wanted me to get quicker down low and in the corners because obviously I’m not the biggest guy. They wanted me to be heavier on pucks to win battles. That comes with being stronger,” he continued.

It’s not as easy as just turning on a switch. Jozefek changed his entire mindset — from his workout regimen to his nutritional habits — in order to become a more productive player at the Hockey East level.

“I changed up my diet. I was around 194 last year. Now I’m around 180-185 so I’ve dropped 10 pounds. It’s helped me become quicker down low. I’m more lean so that’s helped me gain strength. I’ve never done that in my life so it’s definitely helped me this year,” Jozefek said.

Changing a diet isn’t easy, especially for a college student. There are sacrifices that have to be made — some harder than others.

“I always get cravings for pizza. I try to stay away from carbs, but whenever I see pizza on TV or something, I really want a pizza,” Jozefek joked. “I didn’t realize how much it impacted me. I was always eating carbs. I’m sticking to protein, salads and greens. It’s a big change for me.”

Being in better shape and eating well doesn’t automatically translate into more productivity on the ice. A player has to be skilled and have the hockey sense to succeed against some of the top competition in college hockey.

Jozefek’s talents have been on full display throughout the first semester as Northeastern has raced out to a 10-3-1 start, including a 6-1-1 mark in Hockey East play. Jozefek leads the Huskies in scoring with 10 goals and six assists.

His 10 goals puts him behind only Boston College’s David Cotton and UMass’ Mitchell Chaffee in the Hockey East goal scoring race. Transforming his skill set and emphasizing getting shots off has made a world of difference.

“Before this year I saw myself as a playmaker who was pretty quick down low. I thought I could make good passes in tight spaces,” Jozefek began. “This year I’ve developed my two-way game and added a bit more scoring. I’ve always had a good shot, but this year I’m starting to use it more. I’ve adapted into a two-way guy who can also score.”

Jozefek, who stands at 5-foot-9, grew up a New Jersey Devils fan, but tries to emulate another NHL winger, Marian Hossa of the Arizona Coyotes.

“I think I’m a little bit of a Marian Hossa type of player. I think he is the best representative of who I play like,” he said.

In addition to being grateful for the coaching staff’s pushing him to be more of an impact player heading into the season, Jozefek also credits head coach Jim Madigan and associate head coach Jerry Keefe for improving his skill set and his mental game.

“Keefer does a lot of stuff with the forwards. After practice he likes to do extra stuff with the forwards whether it’s battling in the corners or doing skill work and shooting pucks. He’s big into shooting pucks after practice,” said Jozefek, who watched the benefits that had on the trio of departed players who are now in pro hockey.

“I saw Gaudette and Sikura shooting pucks after practice. I’ve tried to emulate what they did. Coach Keefe has helped my offensive game a lot,” Jozefek said.

Being confident and having the right mindset to succeed is also an important part of a young player’s game. That’s where Madigan has come in to the picture.

“Coach Madigan has been there from a mindset perspective. He’s always seen that there was more in me. He’s tried to calm me down and helped me mentally when I was injured. He’s always been there for me,” Jozefek commented.

Northeastern enters the second half of the season tied for third with Providence, both teams just a point behind Boston College and UMass. Continuing to build on the team’s new identity and keeping the foot on the pedal will be imperative to greater heights in the second semester.

“We knew we were going to have a different identity as a team with the big three leaving. When we’re playing our best, we’re hard on pucks, forechecking as hard as we can, and making it hard on their ‘D’ to break pucks out of their zone,” Jozefek said.

“We had our best forechecking game of the season when we knocked off (top ranked) St. Cloud, 3-2. When we have our forechecking going, I think we can beat anyone in the country. That will be a big key in the second half.”

The Huskies return to action Dec. 28 and Dec. 29 at the Catamount Cup in Burlington, Vt. where they’ll face Rensselaer and Alabama-Huntsville.