The modest turnabout of the Victoria Grizzlies (13-17-4) — they are on a two-game winning streak and 4-2-1 in their last seven games — faces a crucial challenge tonight and Sunday at The Q Centre.
But it will have to be met without forward Haydn Hopkins. The hometown graduate of the Racquet Club Kings and Victoria Royals B.C. Major Midget team had just joined the Grizzlies this week from the Vancouver Giants of the major-junior Western Hockey League. But the 18-year-old was claimed off waivers Friday evening by GM Dave Brown of the Erie Otters of the major-junior Ontario Hockey League. It may provide quite the opportunity for Hopkins, who had three goals and 10 points in 53 career WHL games with the Giants, Prince George Cougars and Saskatoon Blades. The Otters (25-3-1), even without the 2015 NHL No. 1 draft pick Connor McDavid, are the top-ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League.
Hopkins’ 2015-16 debut for the Grizzlies was Tuesday in a 4-2 victory over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, in which he had no points and four penalty minutes, and which may turn out to be his only game of the season for the Grizzlies.
“I was a little bit surprised by this. But he only played one game for us, so that makes it easier,” said Grizzlies head coach and GM Craig Didmon.
“We wish him all success over there, and we’ll just move on.”
Meanwhile, first up this weekend for the Grizzlies are the Wenatchee Wild from Washington state, making the first appearance at The Q Centre tonight in their inaugural season in the B.C. Hockey League. With their pick of what Didmon describes as a “wide branch” of junior players in the western U.S., the Wild were expected to make an immediate impact in the BCHL and they haven’t disappointed at 19-9-4 heading into Friday night’s game in Cowichan Valley. The Wild have six players committed to U.S. collegiate NCAA athletic scholarships, including Matthew Baker to Dartmouth, Matthew Burchill to the Air Force Academy and Chase Perry to R.P.I.
“Wenatchee is offensively talented as well as being defensively stingy,” said Didmon.
“But we are going in with a lot of confidence, too. Our game has gotten better and more consistent through the season.”
A lot of that is thanks to two recent pick-ups — Jared Virtanen and Dante Hahn — who have blended with league top-10 scorer Brayden Gelsinger to provide Victoria with its most effective line.
“They are a combined plus-15 over the last five games and showed a lot of chemistry right away,” said Didmon.
“Gelsinger and Hahn are both 20, so this is a big year for them, and they are showing their skill and maturity.”
The West Kelowna Warriors (17-12-2 heading into Friday night’s game in Alberni Valley) invade The Q Centre for a Sunday matinée. The Warriors have seven NCAA commitments, including Quin Foreman to Dartmouth, Bryan Nelson to UConn and Connor Sodergren to Army.
“It’s a challenging weekend and a measuring stick,” said Didmon.
LOOSE PUCKS: Tonight’s game is also Teddy Bear Toss night so fans are asked to bring a stuffed animal and toss it on the ice following the Grizzlies’ first goal.
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