The parts have changed but the whole remains the same.

As is the case with almost all minor-league teams, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have gone through many roster changes during the 2016-17 season, but none have kept them from being the top team in the American Hockey League.

One of the players who has been there for the duration, Shavertown’s Patrick McGrath, said that is what makes this latest version of the consistently successful franchise special.

“At the beginning of the year, we started out great and we kept that going through the whole year, which is really hard to do, especially when you’re losing guys – a lot of good guys and a lot of key players – who helped us early on,” said McGrath, who, at the start of this season, became the first Wyoming Valley player to make the team’s Opening Night roster out of training camp. “But it seems to be we have a team and a leadership group that just kind of keeps it together. When new guys come in, everybody just buys into the system.”

In years past, McGrath was one of those new guys who came and went during a season.

Two years ago, he achieved one career dream by making it up from the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers to play two games with the Penguins, who play in the highest level of minor-league hockey, regularly supplying players to the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

McGrath, a 24-year-old Lake-Lehman graduate, continued his career progression a year ago when he made it to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for 19 games.

Although he is often a game-night scratch, McGrath has stuck with the team all season, establishing his AHL career-high with 25 games played by getting into the lineup at least three times every month since the season opened in October. He played six games during February and earlier this month produced his second assist of the season.

“I think every year, you work on trying to get better,” the 5-foot-10, 200-pound forward said. “Every year, the more experience you have, the better you get. The older guys are a lot smarter with decisions they make on the ice and that just comes with experience.”

Known for his toughness and willingness to protect teammates, McGrath has racked up 85 penalty minutes in 25 games this season and 163 in 46 career AHL games.

Spending the entire season in the AHL has allowed him to use practice time to continue his pursuit of a more well-rounded game that will make him more of an offensive threat.

While he tries to further evolve skills, McGrath said the team he once cheered on and now helps on the ice stays the same.

“We’ve tried to stay the same since Day 1,” he said. “When guys come in, the leadership guys we have and the coaching staff get them right on board and I think they just kind of mold right into our system.”

While McGrath continues his professional career, younger brother Chris recently completed his most recent season of junior hockey where he has one year of eligibility remaining.

Chris was the sixth-leading scorer for the Carolina Eagles, the third-best team in the United States Premier Hockey League Elite Division. He had 17 goals and 14 assists in 37 games and earned USPHL Elite Player of the Week honors in January when he returned from a broken leg to produce six goals and four assists in his first two games back.

Lake-Lehman graduate Patrick McGrath has stuck with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey team all season, establishing his AHL career-high with 25 games played by getting into the lineup at least three times every month since the season opened in October.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_Penguins-Hartford_5.jpg.optimal.jpgLake-Lehman graduate Patrick McGrath has stuck with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey team all season, establishing his AHL career-high with 25 games played by getting into the lineup at least three times every month since the season opened in October. Bill Tarutis file photo | Dallas Post
Lake-Lehman graduate has stuck with team all season

By TOM ROBINSON

For Dallas Post

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