Colin Greening
The Ivy League power forward who defied late-round draft odds to become a key, grinding presence for the Ottawa Senators.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: March 9·Millennials
Biography
Colin Greening's path to the NHL was anything but typical. A seventh-round draft pick, he chose the route of education and development at Cornell University, where he became a standout power forward in the ECAC. His combination of size, intelligence, and a relentless work ethic eventually earned him a full-time spot with the Ottawa Senators. Greening was never a flashy scorer; his value was in his straight-line speed, physicality along the boards, and defensive responsibility. He found a perfect fit on a hard-checking line with Zack Smith and Chris Neil, a unit that could wear down opponents and chip in key goals. His best season came in the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign, where he posted career-high numbers. While his offensive production later tapered, his professionalism and team-first attitude remained constants. After his NHL career, he returned to Cornell to complete his degree, embodying the scholar-athlete ideal he had always represented.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Colin was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Colin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Colin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played a full 82-game season for the Ottawa Senators in 2011-12, recording 17 goals and 37 points.
- Won the ECAC Hockey championship with Cornell University in 2010.
- Was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top NCAA men's ice hockey player, in his senior year at Cornell.
- Represented Canada at the 2011 IIHF World Championship.
Did You Know?
He graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Applied Economics and Management.
He was known for his exceptional skating speed for a player of his 6'2", 210-pound frame.
He scored his first NHL goal against goaltender Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils.
After retiring, he worked in the financial sector and also served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Cornell men's hockey team.
“I was a seventh-round pick, so I always felt I had to prove I belonged.”
