The Victoria Grizzlies seemed to wilt under the glare of the NHL and NCAA scouting eyes on them in the Bauer B.C. Hockey League Showcase last week in Chilliwack.
All they seemed to need, after dropping their two games in the Showcase, was an escape from the spotlight.
Victoria (3-3) rebounded from the debacle in Chilliwack by defeating the Nanaimo Clippers 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at Frank Crane Arena.
“With less distractions, we seemed to get back on track,” said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon.
“There is so much pressure at the Showcase with all those scouts watching you that it does become a distraction. But we got back to business Sunday and were dominant.”
Of note was the first goal of the season by touted Victoria forward Alex Newhook, who is projected for the first round of the 2019 NHL draft.
“[Statistics aside], Alex has played well this season, and did again Sunday for us,” said Didmon.
“What impressed me most was that he played a very tough game and was physical. We had two 20-year-olds out of the lineup [Ryan Nolan and Cam Thompson] and it was Alex Newhook, who is just 17, who led us.”
Newhook had a goal and assist and has six points on the season, while Alex Campbell also added a goal on a two-point night. Jordan Guiney also scored for Victoria, which got offensive production from the blue line with goals by Carter Berger and Brady MacDonald. Ethan Scardina of Nanaimo (2-5) spoiled Kurtis Chapman’s shutout bid.
Chapman finished with 24 saves, while Jordan Naylor and Landon Pavlisin of the Clippers combined for 37.
Didmon said he saw a certain grittiness emerge Sunday: “It was a gutsy win, considering those two 20-year-olds were out, which is half our contingent because we only carry four [six 20-year-olds are allowed on BCHL rosters].”
Nolan has a mid-body issue and Thompson was away for family reasons. Didmon said he expects both back in the lineup when the Grizzlies again head up-Island to meet the Cowichan Valley Capitals (1-3-2) on Wednesday at the Island Savings Centre in Duncan.
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