The Powell River Kings seem to have replaced the Nanaimo Cippers as the main Island Division rival for the Victoria Grizzlies in the B.C. Hockey League.
“The Kings have been consistently competitive and we’ve gone head to head the last few seasons,” said Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon.
The clubs renew their rivalry tonight at The Q Centre in Colwood. The Grizzlies are 10-5 and the Kings are 7-6 after losing 3-1 to the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Friday night in Duncan.
“It’s a big game in that it affects the pecking order in the division,” said Didmon, of the Grizzlies-Kings matchup.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, feature two forwards listed by Central Scouting for the 2019 National Hockey League draft, with the touted Alex Newhook projected for the first round and Alex Campbell for the latter rounds. That renown is starting to hit home.
“We had lots of NHL visitors today,” said Didmon, about an influx of scouts.
Not only are there two Western Hockey League games in town this weekend at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, between the Victoria Royals and Kelowna Rockets, but the NHL scouts also have Sunday’s matinée at The Q Centre between the Grizzlies and Surrey Eagles (4-12) for a triple-night parlay.
“Surrey has had a slow start but they have been finding a way recently and are on a rise,” Didmon said of the Eagles, who were beaten 6-2 by the Clippers in Nanaimo on Friday night.
The Grizzlies go into tonight on a two-game win streak having picked up road wins in Alberni and Nanaimo.
“All our players were ready to go and accepted their responsibility [after a miserable home loss last weekend against Alberni Valley],” said Didmon.
“The guys were more relaxed over the last two games and were not squeezing their sticks as tightly.”
LOOSE PUCKS: Following this weekend’s home games, the Grizzlies head back out on the road with games in Chilliwack, Merritt and Surrey next Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
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