Via the Grand Rapids Griffins on Twitter, The AHL’s website has recruited the fantastic AHL scribe Patrick Williams to write features for TheAHL.com, and, this morning, Williams has profiled Joe Veleno and Jonatan Berggren:
Taken three picks apart by the @DetroitRedWings in the 2018 draft, @jveleno91 and @Jberggren48 are getting down to work with @griffinshockey.
?: @pwilliamsAHL | https://t.co/RlNH1mlMn9 pic.twitter.com/WKiIRMGBBW— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) October 27, 2021
[Joe] Veleno had made his NHL debut in April, but he found himself back in Grand Rapids as he began his third pro season.
“I mean, it’s definitely disappointing, for sure,” Veleno said of not making the Detroit roster out of training camp. “I thought I had a pretty good camp and pretty good preseason. [But] I knew before going to the camp that I had to be great. The staff and management had said if a younger guy wants to come in and compete for a job, you’ve got to be great. You can’t just be as good as someone else. I think it’s more on me that I think I wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t that much of a standout when I was there. I’ve got to show that I could dominate this league and hopefully be back up there in no time.”
So exactly what does Veleno need to do in Grand Rapids?
“I think it’s just to take charge. I mean, I’ve got a big role here, playing in all situations. I think that I’m one of the guys that drives the bus on the offense, and I think that this team is going to rely on me, I guess, to be a leader on the ice and to have a good work ethic, a good attitude, and obviously help the team win. I have big expectations for myself right now, and I think we have a good group to support it. I’m going to make the most out of it and play my best while I’m down here to hopefully be called back up soon.”
Continued; this story is worth your time…
