Feature Story

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Grand Rapids’ Wagner singing the Blues

By Steve Carroll

There are many different paths players take to reach the NHL. For Steve Wagner, a rookie defenseman with the St. Louis Blues, his journey to the big leagues included playing three solid seasons for Grand Rapids High School in northern Minnesota.

A standout throughout his youth hockey days, the smooth skating defenseman opted to stay and play three years of high school hockey before graduating and going off to play at the junior “A” level.

The opportunity to play for the hometown high school team, in a hockey hotbed like Grand Rapids, is an experience he will never forget.

It was also a thrill for him to wear the orange and black of the Thunderhawks and have the chance play high school hockey with his long-time buddies, the same guys he grew up playing with at the outdoor rinks and shares so many great hockey memories with.

“It was good as far as friendships go,” Wagner said recently while in town for an NHL game in St. Paul against the Wild. “High school are some of the best years of your life. I loved high school.”

His outstanding play in high school caught the eyes of the scouts. He was selected in the USHL Draft, played two seasons for Tri-City where he earned a scholarship to play in the WCHA with Minnesota State Mankato.

Wagner played three years for the Mavericks. He skated in 113 career games for MSU, collecting 55 points on 12 goals and 43 assists.

Named All-WCHA Third Team in 2006-07, Wagner led MSU defensemen in scoring with 6-23—29. He trailed only Travis Morin on the overall MSU offensive charts and totalled career highs for goals, assists and points.

Last March, the 6-2, 200-pound blue liner, an undrafted free agent, signed a two-year contract with the St. Louis Blues.

Wagner was assigned to the Blues’ AHL affiliate in Peoria where he played 14 games.

“I felt I was ready to move on,” Wagner said. “I got three good years out of Mankato, got a lot of experience there, grew as a player, could not of asked for anything more.”

After a summer of hard work and continued improvement, Wagner surprised more than a few hockey people by making the St. Louis Blues opening day roster, only seven months after finishing his collegiate career.

“It’s been exciting,” Wagner said. “It’s almost unbelieveable. You really didn’t think it was going to happen, but as time went along, it looked good. I just kept working hard and things fell into place.”

He made his NHL debut Oct. 4, at Phoenix and scored his first NHL goal 16 days later during a game in St. Louis against the Wild.

“I got to put it in perspective, that wow I’m playing with some guys that I grew up watching,” Wagner said. “It’s pretty cool to be out there with the Kariya’s and Tkachuk’s.

The 23-year-old Wagner admits it’s been quite a jump from the WCHA to the NHL. What’s been the biggest difference for him? The pros are so much better at the transition game.

“Guys move the puck quicker, guys are on the pucks quicker, guys are so much better, they make plays, they make you a better player,” Wagner said. “Guys are always in the right spots. It’s a different game, there are no sticks and hands, so it’s still a learning process, and I’m trying to pick it up as fast as I can.”

One person not surprised Wagner has been able to make the adjustment from the college game to the NHL, is St. Louis Head Coach Andy Murray. He could sense Wagner brought something special to the game the first time he saw him in action.

“Mike Antonovich deserves a lot of credit,” Murray said. “He scouted Steve and said he is going to be a player. From the first time I saw him at our summer development camp, I’ve felt the same way.”

And it seems to be a perfect fit. Wagner now plays a regular shift for the Blues and looks right at home in the NHL.

“We talked all summer about needing to find a puck-moving, skating defenseman,” Murray said. “We looked at different trade possibilities and we ended up having one in our own backyard.”

Another emerging NHL star who is a product of Minnesota high school hockey.

And all would agree, the road to the NHL that Wagner chose, which included staying and playing three years of varsity hockey, has worked out just fine.

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