The Penticton Valley First Vees will honour former NHL'er, Grant Mulvey, prior to their Saturday, February 9th home game against the Merritt Centennials.
Grant Mulvey was born in Sudbury, Ontario, but grew up in Penticton. He began the 1972/73 season as a member of the Penticton Broncos at the tender age of 15. In 55 games with the Broncos that season, Mulvey had 42 goals and 43 assists, along with 120 penalty minutes and was named a BCJHL Second Team All-Star.
Following one more year of Junior Hockey (with the Calgary Centennials of the WCHL), Mulvey was selected in the First Round, 16th overall, of the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. He remains the youngest player ever to score a goal in a National Hockey League regular season game, doing so just over one month into this 18th year. Mulvey played all but 12 games of his 628 game NHL career with the Blackhawks. He had a reputation as a physical winger with a knack for scoring ‘garbage goals’ from in front of the net, recording 39 in 1979/80, his best season.
Mulvey is famous for hitting Wayne Gretzky, with many consider him having broken an unwritten rule that you don't hit “The Great One.” Nicknamed “Granny,” Mulvey retired in August of 1984 after being released by the New Jersey Devils.
