Farewell to thee, OB次元官网网址� captain.
The Victoria Grizzlies started the week with a bit of a shocker, trading Sean Robertson to the defending league champion Vernon Vipers for future considerations and the rights to Zach McPhee (on injured reserve with the WHL Everett Silvertips).
Both the Vipers and Grizzles are struggling this season, but the dealB次元官网网址檚 prime goal is to get Robertson the NCAA scholarship he deserves, Grizzlies general manager Vic Gervais said.
B次元官网网址淲e traded Sean to get him a scholarship just like we traded (Nick) Buchanan to Penticton (in September). Penticton and Vernon are the best two teams in junior A to get scholarships from B次元官网网址� Buchanan just got one (to Minnesota State-Mankato), and Robertson will get one if Vernon goes a long ways.B次元官网网址�
Robertson turns 21 in February and is desperately seeking the NCAA scholarship he was on track for three years ago, before a broken leg wiped out his 2009-10 season.
Robertson makes his Viper debut Friday night against the Trail Smoke Eaters and will add offence to a defensive corps that has scored just four goals.
B次元官网网址淚 bring experience and know what to expect,B次元官网网址� said Robertson, who played bantam and midget rep in Juan de Fuca after starting minor hockey in Duncan.
B次元官网网址淵ou wonB次元官网网址檛 get anything flashy from me. I just take care of my own end first and go from there.B次元官网网址�
Robertson was the last remaining Grizzly who was with the team when it played in the 2009 Royal Bank Cup. HeB次元官网网址檚 served with the club since he was 16.
HeB次元官网网址檚 also the second GrizzliesB次元官网网址� captain to be dealt in the last year, with Jake Baker going to the Smoke Eaters after just 11 games in 2010-11.
B次元官网网址淛akeB次元官网网址檚 trade was different,B次元官网网址� Gervais said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 got nothing to do with Victoria (being a bad place to get a scholarship), weB次元官网网址檝e gotten lots of kids scholarships. Sometimes (scouts) need to see something different from a player. After five years, going to a new team can showcase (Robertson) in a different role, or the same role but on a better team.B次元官网网址�
For the record, it worked for Baker, now in his rookie year with Northern Michigan University and skating alongside fellow GrizzB次元官网网址� alum Brian Nugent.
Robertson learned of his trade on Sunday, after assisting on a one-timer goal by Jarryd Ten Vaanholt that lifted the Grizzlies past the Powell River Kings 4-3 in overtime earlier that day.
B次元官网网址淚 was told IB次元官网网址檇 be moved for the right deal and I couldnB次元官网网址檛 be happier coming to a first-class organization like Vernon,B次元官网网址� said Robertson. B次元官网网址�(The Grizzlies are) kind of an underachieving team. Our record didnB次元官网网址檛 show how good we really are.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 expect him to be a saviour or anything. We just need him to be steady and be part of a shutdown pair,B次元官网网址� said VipersB次元官网网址� head coach Jason Williamson. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a pretty good all-around defenceman with Royal Bank Cup experience. HeB次元官网网址檚 a player we targeted for some time.B次元官网网址�
The Grizzlies and Vipers are fighting for the fourth and final playoff spots in their respective conferences.
The move means more ice time for the youthful group of Grizzlies blueliners.
B次元官网网址淥bviously losing Sean hurts our club a little bit. WeB次元官网网址檙e still not going to give up, weB次元官网网址檙e looking for players to fill that role,B次元官网网址� Gervais said.
Nolan de Jong, Braxton Bilous and Stefan Gonzales will see more ice time as a result. It also gives Gervais a total of five player cards to fill by the Jan. 10 deadline, with hopes of signing David Walchuk, Kevin Woodyatt and Jaden Schmeisser (Saanich Braves) to full time status.
Grin and bear it
Import Brad Gehl was sent back to Ontario last week after three months with the team.
B次元官网网址淗e wasnB次元官网网址檛 working out here, a little too busy off the ice and we werenB次元官网网址檛 happy with that,B次元官网网址� Gervais said.
sports@goldstreamgazette.com
B次元官网网址擶ith files from Kevin Mitchell, Vernon Morning Star.
