Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Grizzlies goalie Dillon getting NHL attention

For three straight seasons the Victoria Grizzlies have benefited from and proudly boasted about having a player’s name called at the National Hockey League entry draft. Goaltender Alec Dillon might be the fourth.
B1-0112-grizz.jpg
Alec Dillon is attracting some interest from NHL scouts.

For three straight seasons the Victoria Grizzlies have benefited from and proudly boasted about having a player’s name called at the National Hockey League entry draft.

Goaltender Alec Dillon might be the fourth.

His statistics and play certainly are attracting attention, as NHL scouts continue to make their way to Bear Mountain Arena to see just what the six-foot-five goaltender is all about.

The latest included former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Mike Palmateer — who bird dogs for the club — and representatives from the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings. The Edmonton Oilers also had three scouts, including head man Stu MacGregor, here Saturday in what was eventually a 4-2 win against the Merritt Centennials played before 2,128 fans.

“I’m just focusing on my play as opposed to who’s coming to watch me,” a very level headed Dillon said of the attention. “With Bill [Bestwick, the former Grizzlies’ GM and head coach] and now Craig [head coach Craig Didmon], they’ve both done a good job of keeping me away from it and separate from the team.”

Including Saturday’s effort, Dillon has played 23 games and the Belmont Secondary student has managed an impressive record of 17 wins, three losses, two ties and a shootout loss. His goals against average was a tidy 2.34 entering the game, while maintaining a .922 save percentage.

With the victory, Dillon is now riding a seven-game win streak and has lost just once in his last 21 appearances.

Dillon already has a scholarship to Renseelaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., for 2015-16. He also has the Edmonton Oil Kings wanting him to come their way after they dealt for his Western Hockey League rights in late 2013. GM Randy Hansch has also dropped by on visits.

But that’s all in the future.

“He’s had lots of NHL teams come in and watch him and he’s just remained calm and cool throughout the whole thing,” Didmon said of his netminder. “He’s been solid and being his age, and putting up the numbers he has, he’s done a good job and handled the pressures pretty well by just going out and playing pretty good hockey.

“He knows he has the ability to play and if he can just keep his mind at ease, he’ll do the job,” said Didmon.

On Saturday, Jaden Schmeisser, Cole Pickup, Mark McLellan and Myles Fitzgerald scored for the Grizzlies, who led 2-1 and 4-2 by periods and improve to 27-9-3-2.

Sebastien Pare and Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick Dane Birks managed to beat Dillon, who made 30 saves.

mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com

Twitter/tc_vicsports