Mike Grier was a prominent player for Boston University from 1993 to 1996. During his time with the Terriers, he was known for his physical, two-way style of play. In his sophomore year, 1994-95, Grier was an instrumental part of the team’s NCAA national championship run, earning First-Team All-American and All-Hockey East First Team honors. His stellar performance that season, which included 19 goals and 26 assists for 45 points, also made him a top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, an accolade for the most outstanding player in college hockey. He finished his college career with 120 points in 114 games.

Following his collegiate career, Grier was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft but had his rights traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He went on to play 14 seasons in the NHL, amassing 1,060 games with four different teams: the Oilers, Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, and San Jose Sharks. A reliable checking forward and penalty killer, Grier was often in the conversation for the Frank J. Selke Award and helped his teams reach the playoffs in 11 of his 14 seasons. After retiring from playing, he transitioned into a front-office role and, in 2022, became the first Black general manager in NHL history when he was hired by the San Jose Sharks.