Although born in Sudbury, Grant Mulvey was whisked out west to British Columbia before he had outgrown his playpen. A few years later, he progressed from taking his first steps to attempting his first strides on a local rink. He loved the experience and soon embarked on a trip through the ranks of the local amateur hockey system.
By age 16, he reached the top of his region with the Penticton Panthers of the BCJHL in 1972-73. As a lad of large dimensions, he was successful at creating plenty of space for himself around the opposition's net.
The following season, he went East to join the Calgary Centennials of the WHL where NHL scouts began to swoon over his impressive blend of size, abrasion, and soft hands. The Chicago Blackhawks stepped forward at the 1974 Amateur Draft to pick up the hefty winger in the first round.
Mulvey jumped straight onto the Hawks' weakened roster, which was in the midst of transition. The upheaval along with the club's downward spiral meant plenty of job opportunities for young upstarts like Terry Ruskowski and Rich Preston who came over from the WHA to join Mulvey on a new line. The trio clicked sufficiently well to insure Mulvey's status as an 18-year-old big leaguer.
By year two, he began to establish his game at the NHL level. Although he wasn't usually a prolific scorer, he earned most of his points in the form of garbage goals squeezed out of the combat zone along the perimeter of the opposition's goal crease. He had the size to be a vigourous bumper who wasn't adverse to dropping the gloves.
In all, Mulvey put in more than eight seasons in the Windy City. During that time, he once scored five goals and two assists in one game, tying a club record. He also potted a personal-best 39 markers in 1979-80.
In 1982-83, he was struck down with injury troubles. He missed most of the campaign while convalescing. At the start of the following year, he was claimed on waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins who held his rights for five days before the New Jersey Devils claimed him for the start of the season. Mulvey struggled to regain any kind of form worthy of NHL competition. He lasted only 12 games before his demotion to the Maine Mariners of the AHL where he completed his career at the close of the 1983-84 campaign.
