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Victoria Grizzlies captain Alex Newhook earmarked as NHL first-round draft pick

Alex Newhook continues skating into rarefied hockey territory.
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Victoria Grizzlies captain Alex Newhook.

Alex Newhook continues skating into rarefied hockey territory.

The Victoria Grizzlies captain was the lone Junior ‘A’ player given an A-rating, denoting a projected first-round selection for the 2019 NHL draft, in Central Scouting’s updated Players To Watch list released on Monday.

That tracks with pretty much all other lists. Both Sportsnet and ISS Hockey have Newhook rated for the first round at No. 11 overall, The Hockey News at No. 13 and Bob McKenzie of TSN at No. 15. Draft.Site.com has the native of St. John’s, Nfld., going 16th overall to the Colorado Avalanche.

Grizzlies forward Alex Campbell is also among the 19 Canadian Junior ‘A’ players, seven of whom are from the B.C. Hockey League, cited Monday by Central Scouting and was given a C rating as likely going in the fourth, fifth or sixth rounds. Draft.Site.com, however, has ranked Campbell higher and has projected the NCAA Clarkson-bound Montreal native going 70th overall in the third round to the Arizona Coyotes.

Throw in for good measure Grizzlies forward and 2018 New York Rangers’ seventh-round draft pick Riley Hughes.

“This shows we have a strong club with skilled guys,” said Grizzlies head coach and GM Craig Didmon.

That is having a ripple effect, Didmon added: “It is rubbing off on everybody else on the team and raising the overall group. There is a lot of NHL focus on this team and guys are rising to the occasion.”

The latest was in the Grizzlies’ 5-0 victory over the Cowichan Valley Capitals (5-15-3) before 1,047 fans on Saturday at Island Savings Centre in Duncan as Newhook scored once. The crafty and quick centre, committed next season to Boston College of the NCAA, is second in BCHL scoring with 12 goals and 35 points. The other goals came from Hughes, blueliner Carter Berger and two from Cameron Thompson.

Grizzlies goaltender Kurtis Chapman made 37 saves to record his second consecutive shutout, following up a 6-0 whitewash of the Nanaimo Clippers. The last goal Chapman allowed was at 6:30 of the third period in a 5-2 victory over the Trail Smoke Eaters as he has clocked 132 minutes and 30 seconds of shutout play.

“[Chapman] keeps an even keel and doesn’t get too high or too low,” said Didmon.

“He is a 20-year-old veteran who works hard in practice and it shows. He is in a good [head] space right now.”

The Grizzlies (15-7-1) embark on a three-game road trip against potentially troublesome opponents, beginning Friday in Coquitlam against the Express (15-7-1), Saturday in Penticton against the Vees (13-6-3) and Sunday in Vernon against the Vipers (8-7-8).

“It’s a huge weekend against three tough clubs, so our preparation this week is key for us,” Didmon said.