Photo credit: Juan Ocampo/NHLI Getty Images)
After winning gold in 2014, LA Kings’ longtime equipment manager Darren Granger is returning to the Winter Olympics in 2022.
The LA Kings boast one of the best in the world at his craft, and equipment manager Darren Granger will be once again recognized for his accolades this coming February when he represents Team Canada at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. Hockey Canada announced the news on Aug. 9, which included the coaching staff, led by Tampa Bay Lightning bench boss, Jon Cooper.
Having already won gold for his native country in Sochi in 2014, Darren Granger hopes to add another Olympic medal to his resume as Canada hopes to improve on their bronze-medal finish in Pyeonchang in 2018.
Granger, who has been with the Kings since 2006, is no stranger to international competition, representing Canada at multiple levels. Granger also represented his native country at the World Junior Championships (1992), the World Championships (1999, 2006, 2008, 2010), and the World Cup of Hockey (1996, 2016). But, to return to the Olympic stage means the world to the Brandon, Manitoba, native.
“I’m very honored again to be asked,” Granger said in an interview earlier this week via Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider. “I’ve been lucky enough to work with them a few times, now, and every time you get asked it truly is an honor to work with them.
“I don’t take it lightly. I haven’t counted, but there are 15-20 Canadian [head equipment managers] who do my job in hockey, in the NHL, that could easily be a part of this. All of us that work in the NHL are at the top of our field, so to be considered [now] multiple times, to work these events, I don’t take it lightly. It really is an honor.”
En route to Olympic gold in 2014, there was an added bonus to Granger’s journey, celebrating the ultimate victory with fellow Kings players Drew Doughty and Jeff Carter. Granger even had a chance to celebrate another ultimate victory with Doughty again two years later — along with fellow Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin — as Canada won the World Cup of Hockey. Granger also has a silver medal from the 2008 Worlds to go along with his two Stanley Cups with the Kings.
Among other accomplishments, Granger celebrated his 2000th career NHL game in March 2019.
In the wake of his exciting news, Granger had an exclusive interview with the aforementioned Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider, and you can read it here:
Huge congratulations to Mr. Granger on his selection to Team Canada. It is very well-deserved.
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