In just 16 periods since being acquired at the trade deadline, Thomas Gobeil has managed to prove just what he’s capable of on the ice.
It would be 18 periods in six games if not for a fight and game misconduct late in the opening stanza in his fifth outing with the Victoria Grizzlies.
Over that stretch of time, however, the 20-year-old Quebec native has managed five goals, including two on the power play and one shorthanded, as he establishes himself with his new club, having come over in a trade from the Cowichan Valley Capitals for future considerations.
In total, he has 18 goals and 28 points in 31 games and he also now leads the Grizzlies in penalty minutes with 53.
“I feel at home here now. It’s a good feeling,” said Gobeil in preparation for tonight’s 7 p.m. start against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs at The Q Centre. “The boys were very welcoming when I first got here, but it’s always a new environment.
“I feel like I’m part of the team, like the boys are my brothers and I’m at home now in Victoria.”
And he has certainly been at home on the scoresheet. Gobeil is coming off two-goal performances against Chilliwack and Alberni Valley last week that sandwiched his ejection against Salmon Arm on Friday.
“That’s what I’m here to do, so that makes me happy,” he said of his two tallies in Saturday’s 6-1 win over Chilliwack. “We got the win, it makes me happy.”
As it does for the coaching staff.
“That’s what we thought we were getting when we made the trade,” said associate coach Scott Hawthorne. “There is always an adjustment in the locker-room and I think it’s gone a lot quicker than we had hoped. He’s been great, not only with his on-ice performance, but chipping in and being a leader in the room.”
Gobeil centred a line with Jay Mackie and Kevin Massy on Saturday with the addition of the big-bodied Massy benefiting the trio.
“He’s a big guy so I think that helped us out. It created more space for me and Jay in the offensive zone,” said Gobeil, who was obviously upset about being ejected the night previous against Salmon Arm, which ended in a 4-0 shutout loss.
“When you play hockey, in the heat of the moment, those things happen. The only thing is, in this league you get kicked out of the game with the one fight,” said Gobeil. “That prevents me from doing my job. I just have to be more careful.”
But the former Quebec Major Junior Hockey League player is delighted with where he’s at right now.
“I like the chemistry on this team. I like the role I have and I like the way things are going here,” he said. “We have very talented players and I think we could be a surprise in the playoffs. When we gel together we are very hard to beat.”
At 20-16-1-9, the Grizzlies sit two points back of second-place Powell River, each having 12 games remaining (just one against each other). Alberni Valley is just a point behind Victoria, but with three games in hand.
The Grizzlies and Bulldogs meet again on Tuesday after a rare weekend off for Victoria.
“Totally important games,” added Hawthorne. “We know what we get with Alberni, they never quit and they’ve proven that against us time and again. If everyone is there mentally, I do feel we can come out on top. If we prepare properly, we will give ourselves a shot to win every time we’re on the ice.”
