They are called the Victoria Grizzlies. But they perhaps need at this point to be less fearsome than their nickname implies and more like squirrels in the B.C. Hockey League. Instead of nuts for the winter, however, they should begin stockpiling points in the Island Division standings.
That’s because five of the Grizzlies — forward Alex Newhook, Alex Campbell and Riley Hughes, and defencemen Carter Berger and Jeremie Bucheler — are Team Canada West camp invitees and could be gone from Dec. 3-16 if selected for the 2018 World Junior A Challenge next month in Bonnyville, Alta.
No other teams in the Island Division have a player invited to the selection camp.
“We’re looking forward to seeing which other players on our team will step up during that time, and that will make us a better team in the long term and down the stretch,” said Grizzlies head coach and GM Craig Didmon.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies will want to make maximum use of the so-called Fab Five over the next three games before they depart for the Team Canada West selection camp, which opens Monday in Calgary.
Island Division-leading Victoria (19-8-1) is in Duncan Wednesday night to play the division-trailing Cowichan Valley Capitals (6-17-5). The Grizzlies then host the Coquitlam Express (15-11-1) on Friday night at The Q Centre and West Kelowna (15-12-1) on Sunday afternoon.
“We are looking at it as nine periods and we aim to play nine perfect periods, if we can,” said Didmon.
The Capitals are the only one of the three upcoming opponents with a losing record, but Didmon remains wary.
“It’s a rivalry game, just 45 minutes away, in a hostile environment for us and we have to think on our skates while we play and keep our composure against a Capitals team that always plays us tough,” said the Victoria bench boss.
“We can’t take any teams for granted.”
Newhook, projected for the upper half of the first round of the 2019 NHL draft, heads into Wednesday night leading the BCHL in scoring with 45 points. Berger is second in BCHL scoring among defencemen with 33 points.
