The Victoria Grizzlies are looking forward to their home opener this Saturday, taking on the Canadian Junior Hockey League No. 1 ranked Penticton Vees.
GrizzliesB次元官网网址� head coach Craig Didmon is excited to see how the teams will measure up. B次元官网网址淚 think theyB次元官网网址檙e a really good hockey club,B次元官网网址� Didmon said. B次元官网网址淲e have young talent, hopefully by the end of the year the rankings will show we will be one of the top teams in the country.B次元官网网址�
He said the game Saturday will be a battle of two deep teams and all of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 lines need to play hard and beat the matches to win.
Captain Alex Newhook hopes to continue the success at home against the Vees, last season the Grizzlies beat Penticton 6-3 at The Q Centre. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a date thatB次元官网网址檚 been marked since the schedule came out that everybodyB次元官网网址檚 been looking forward to,B次元官网网址� he said.
Victoria lost its first game of the season 5-3 to the Powell River Kings, the same team that knocked the Grizzlies out of the playoffs at the end of last season, but Didmon said heB次元官网网址檚 content with his final roster and their progress.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 happy with the level of the play and the level theyB次元官网网址檝e adapted to, the young guys have showed that they are ready to be regular-time players, the lineup is strong top to bottom,B次元官网网址� he said.
Grizzlies scored two goals in the first period, one from Marty Westhaver to get Victoria on the board and one from Riley Hughes on the power play, putting them up 2-0 after the first.
VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Ryan Nolan scored another goal to start the second, and the Grizzlies held the lead until the last seven minutes of the game.
Newhook said VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 hot start proves they are a fast and very skilled team, unique to other teams in the league.
B次元官网网址淲e lost sharpness and consistency in some areas, and we need to be better defensively, so if we clean that up weB次元官网网址檒l be that much better,B次元官网网址� he said. As for his new linemate, Hughes, Newhook thinks they compliment each other well, noting picking up a goal against the Kings was a great start to the season for Hughes.
Didmon said his team had a lot of well executed chances against the Kings, but the puck didnB次元官网网址檛 bounce their way.
Back in net for Victoria, Kurtis Chapman saved 32 of 36 shots and Didmon said he didnB次元官网网址檛 take the loss easy and is continuing to work on his timing to be able to dominate like he did during playoffs at the end of last season.
The Vees are the only team in the British Columbia Hockey League to crack the top 10 in the pre-season rankings, with the Grizzlies coming in at the 11th spot.
Up next for Victoria is Alberni Valley at Weyerhaeuser Arena Friday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.
The Grizzlies home opener takes place at The Q Centre Saturday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. Jamie and Jordie BennB次元官网网址檚 jerseys retirement ceremony will take place that night and Gord Phillips Band will perform live before the game and during intermissions.
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