REGINA PATS - GRAHAM HOOD IS ADJUSTING TO A STRICT DIET.

Taken from Greg Harder - Regina Leader Post

October 27, 2009

Hood is still searching for a role in the lineup

Graham Hood is adjusting to a strict diet.

A gifted scorer in minor hockey, Hood is having to digest a less prominent role as he attempts to work his way up the food chain with the Regina Pats. It's a transition most young players are forced to endure at the WHL level -- and one that's still a work in progress for Hood.

"You go from being a top guy on your team in minor hockey and you come into something like this, you don't know what (to expect) but you don't really complain," Hood, 17, said after scoring two goals Sunday in Regina's 5-2 win over the visiting Swift Current Broncos. "You take the role you're given and try to make it work. I'll do what I can every night. If I can put the puck in the net, if I need to fight, if I need to hit, I'll just fall into my role."

Asked to identify his role with the Pats, Hood said it changes from night to night.

"It depends where I'm put (in the lineup)," he explained. "If I'm a fourth-line guy, I don't mind being the energy guy every once in a while but I like putting pucks in the net too. Whatever I'm given I try to take advantage of it and do my best."

Hood has been used primarily on the third or fourth line this season, but an injury to Matt Strueby helped open the door for a promotion to the second unit on Sunday with Killian Hutt and Brett Leffler. Hood responded with the first two-goal game of his WHL career.

"It's nice to finally get it," he said with a smile. "I've been working hard. I've had my ups and downs but it's nice that (some offensive success) is finally here and I'm on a little bit of a roll."

Although Hood has moved around the lineup a great deal this season, Pats head coach Curtis Hunt is quick to emphasize that there should be no ambiguity about his role. Regardless of where Hood ends up on a given night, his approach shouldn't change.

"To me the challenge for Graham is to be a hockey player, not get it in your head that 'I need to be a specific guy within the lineup,' " explained Hunt. "He's a big body, he's got some decent skill, but his strength lies down around the net. He should be along the walls and just being an efficient player. When he was drafted we looked at him as a guy to be able to score. You hope he works himself into a position to get those chances (by doing the little things right). He's still a young player. He has to learn to play a complete game and he'll get opportunities."

The Pats selected Hood in the second round (23rd overall) of the 2007 bantam draft after he recorded 61 goals and 114 points in 51 games.

As with most young players, consistency has been Hood's main obstacle at the WHL level. The 6-foot-0, 200-pounder showed brief flashes of physical dominance last season but he would also disappear for long stretches when he didn't use his size to his advantage.

That trend has continued this season, but he's also showing more signs lately of putting it all together.

"I've made more room for myself since I started hitting; it makes the game easier," added Hood, who has four goals and three assists in 15 games this season after recording six goals and seven assists in 60 games as a rookie. "I have to keep trying to roll with it. You get what you give. If you don't have a good game, you're going back down to the fourth line. It's expected. I'm still a young guy. I just have to go with what I get and make the best of it."