It’s been roughly 10 months, but Brayden Gelsinger finally got his chance to suit up against his old club.
“I’m pretty excited. In Duncan, it’s a great rink, they have great fans and I still have a bunch of buddies on that team. I’m excited for it,” he said prior to last night’s opening B.C. Hockey League exhibition game for the Victoria Grizzlies.
The 20-year-old centreman has now landed in Victoria, his second trade in eight months.
The former Cowichan Valley Capital was shipped last November to West Kelowna and subsequently picked up in an off-season deal by the Grizzlies.
“We mutually agreed that with the team not doing too well at the time, we decided that I might be better served somewhere else,” the Regina native said of the first trade out of Duncan.
“It was good. We made playoffs, played Penticton the first round.”
The Warriors lost to eventual BCHL champion Penticton in five games in the playoffs, two results in overtime.
Gelsinger, who was kept pointless along with his teammates in Saturday night’s 5-0 loss, looks forward to his new home where he is ultimately expected to be a point producer. “Definitely, it’s a role I’m coming in to do, provide points and be a leader.
“It’s my 20-year-old season so I definitely need to lead by example,” said Gelsinger, who has not set any goals points wise after netting 56 between Cowichan and West Kelowna last season.
“I try not to worry about it. I want to go out and play my game. Usually points come from hard work and using my skill to my advantage.
“I want to have a good season, with the team doing well, and maybe I can get a pro contract in the summer,” he said.
The five-foot-10, 170-pounder is not in a position to earn an NCAA scholarship, having burned that avenue playing briefly for the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League.
“It’s too bad how the Kamloops thing worked out, but it happened and I can’t really look back at that now. I have to keep moving forward,” said Gelsinger, who joined the Blazers for two playoff games in 2011-12 after he had totalled 22 goals and 20 assists for the Tisdale Trojans in the Saskatchewan Midget Hockey League.
He then played 12 games for the WHL club in 2012-13 before being let go.
Now he’s focused on his final junior year in Victoria, having been traded for Garrett Forster at the end of June.
“Obviously, I want us to be one of the top teams on the Island — just be a winning team and hopefully have some success,” said Gelsinger.
Starting this weekend against his old club as the Grizzlies will also face the Capitals today at 2 p.m. at Juan de Fuca Arena.
“I’m definitely looking forward to it. I haven’t been back [to Duncan] since the trade. I see most of the guys that were with me last year are still there.”
He is also excited that younger brother Nathan, 18, is attempting to make the Grizzlies’ club.
“It’s pretty cool. He’s having a great camp and I’m expecting him to make it. I’d look forward to playing with him,” said the elder Gelsinger of his sibling, who stands six foot and 170 pounds, graduating from the Regina Pats Canadians in midget AAA.
“He definitely got the height in the family and definitely plays a different style — more of a threat, physicality wise.”
The two have played together at times throughout training camp.
mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com
Twitter/tc_vicsports
