USPHL Commitment Profiles: Battalion All-Star Grinsvall Advancing To Manhattanville
By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com
Twice a Florida All-Division selection and a representative of the division at the 2025 USPHL Premier All-Star event, Emil Grinsvall certainly made a name for himself during his two years with the Bold City Battalion.
Next, Grinsvall will get a chance to make a name for himself in the NCAA when he takes his game to Manhattanville University starting this fall.
“I first started talking to Manhattanville University at the beginning of 2025. They told me they really liked my size and how I use it to my advantage,” said Grinsvall. “They also liked my offensive skill set and how active I am in the offensive zone.”
Manhattanville plays in the prestigious United Collegiate Hockey Conference and Grinsvall, a native of Goteborg, Sweden, is excited to take full advantage of all the Valiants can give him on and off the ice to push him in this next important phase of his career.
“What I liked most about Manhattanville from a hockey perspective is that they are very ambitious, have clear goals, and are building something strong and I really wanted to be part of that journey,” said Grinsvall. “I visited the school at the end of March, and both the academic and hockey facilities were excellent. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming, so everything just felt right.
“Academically, I was looking for a smaller school where I can build closer relationships with the teachers and receive a high quality education in a more personal environment,” Grinsvall added.
Grinsvall joined the Battalion in their inaugural season of 2023-24, scoring six goals and adding 35 assists for 41 points in 42 games. He followed that with five points in six postseason games as the Battalion made the USPHL Nationals in that first year. This season, his points per game ticked above 1.00 per game, as he scored a 10-31-41 line in 37 games. In the Florida Division playoffs, he helped his team with a 2-4-6 line in four games. He praised the whole program, including former Battalion Coach Rett Vossler, who will lead the way for the new Coral Springs Jr. Cats as head coach in 2025-26.
“What I liked most about playing for the Bold City Battalion was the team and my teammates. We had a great group, and everyone worked hard and supported each other. When I joined, it was a brand new team, but Coach Vossler had a good plan and clear goals, and I thought that would be a good step for me in my hockey career,” Grinsvall said.
“During my two years, we talked a lot about both the team and my development as a player. I had a big role and got a lot of trust from the coaches, which helped me grow a lot as a player and I’m very grateful for that,” he added. “Playing for Bold City and in the USPHL really helped prepare me to take the next step and become an NCAA player.”
He looks back fondly on his and his Bold City teammates’ trip to Utica in 2024 for the USPHL Nationals.
“Playing in the USPHL Nationals was an amazing experience. The whole event was really well-organized, and the level of competition was high,” he added. “It was definitely one of the best hockey memories so far. Being there with my team and competing after all that work we had put in together is something I’ll never forget.”
College hockey will mean the needle will be pushing into the red in terms of the needed effort to be an impact player. Grinsvall knows this and is extremely focused on doing all he can in Sweden during the summer towards his hockey goals.
“This off-season, I’m focusing a lot on developing physically so I can be as ready as possible for the start of the NCAA season,” he said. “I want to improve my strength, speed, and conditioning so I can handle the pace and physical play right from the beginning and make an impact from Day 1. I really looking forward to this opportunity, and I look forward to being a Valiant!”
The USPHL congratulates Emil Grinsvall, his family, the Bold City Battalion and Manhattanville University for his college commitment.