Cheshire had an early lead in this game, but it wasn’t because Prep started slow, as the Jesuits had a number of looks in the first quarter. Grenier saved the first four shots he faced, finishing with 16 saves on the night by my count. Grenier was particularly good on shots in tight, making three saves on doorstep shots, some of them coming against a shooter who was completely alone. Grenier plays calmly, he doesn’t just throw his body or stick at the ball. His play tells you he is well-prepared for shooters and picks up tendencies well. He anticipated shot locations well and attacked the ball for saves, with the vast majority of his stops being clean and without a rebound. After early struggles, he also settled in well against a pressure ride from Prep, running away from a riding attackman when needed and hitting open players around the midfield line.

Cheshire, the reigning Class M Champions, gets a lot of attention on offense with guys like No. 2 recruit Matt Jeffrey (Notre Dame) and several other college-bound talents on the roster. But on the other end of the field, the Rams are looking to replace their goalie Connor Atwater, who is now at Western Connecticut State. Grenier backed up Atwater last year and didn’t see too much playing time, but he looked great this summer and fall while playing for 2Way. Tracking the ball well and hard to beat low, the junior has quick hands and makes highlight reel saves on the doorstep. Grenier is also an accomplished skier, which goes to show you how athletic he is. The Rams lost a few defenders last year and will need Grenier to step up in order to repeat their success from a year ago, but I like their odds with Grenier in the cage and a strong core returning.