WEST VALLEY CITY — Last Saturday, Ryan Kinasewich was breaking the Utah Grizzlies' franchise all-time scoring record.

Less than 48 hours later, he was packing his bags to head back up to the American Hockey League, which is one step below the NHL, to try and stick there.

So is the life of a talented minor-league hockey player.

But as Kinasewich has proven in over four memorable years with the Grizzlies' franchise, he's been so much more than just a talented player.

Kinasewich, who was called up Monday afternoon by the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL, has been an ideal player for the Grizzlies during his time with the club.

Besides being a prolific scorer — he has racked up 280 points in just 191 games with Utah and broke Chris Taylor's previous franchise record of 278 points during the Grizzlies 8-3 win over Las Vegas last weekend — he's been an excellent captain, a solid teammate and a positive influence on the entire club.

"With him, he makes everybody around him better," said teammate James Sixsmith, who, coincidently, was also called up to the AHL on Monday. "He's just a really good player. He doesn't get credit for how well he sees the game and how well he can pass it. He can certainly score — we all know that. He's got a really good shot, but he's a good teammate and a good captain.

"They don't make 'em like that anymore," added Sixsmith. "He's just a really solid kid, and a really great hockey player to boot."

In the beginning, Kinasewich had no idea he'd wind up with Utah for four-plus seasons. He signed with the club back in 2005, but things sort of clicked from year to year to allow him to remain a Grizz player for a really long time.

"It has been a long time," said Kinasewich. "We've gone through, geez, probably 100 players — maybe more — a couple coaches, athletic trainers and equipment guys. But it's fresh. It keeps it fresh every year, meeting new people every year keeps things exciting."

As Kinasewich prepares to meet new people in Hamilton, the coach he leaves behind thinks he has the tools to make it in the NHL.

"The biggest thing when he gets a call is he may not get that many minutes," said Colley when asked what Kinasewich needs to do to be successful at the next level. "When he (wants to get) down, he's just gotta stay mentally focused on the job at hand and then make the most of those opportunities when he gets them."

Whether Kinasewich sticks in the AHL or winds back down with the Grizzlies, this much seems clear — he'll have a ton of support behind him regardless.

Both his parents religiously watch his games via the Internet, as does his uncle, Alex, and grandma. His two brothers have also given him tons of support.

"Obviously, it's nice to have," Kinasewich said. "It gets you through the tough times. When you're not playing well or something's not going right in your life, it's always nice to have a strong family that can be there and support you."

e-mail: drasmussen@desnews.com