The Victoria Grizzlies are coming to Sooke.

SEAPARC Arena plays host to the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) teamB次元官网网址檚 final preseason game, Sept. 13 against the Cowichan Capitals. Despite it being an exhibition, the Grizzlies will be bringing their game faces to the rink against a heated rival.

B次元官网网址淭his is our last pre-season game before everything gets started, so we are pretty excited,B次元官网网址� said Grizzlies head coach and general manager Brad Knight. B次元官网网址淭hat game will feature our (full) roster, so the fans that are going to pay for tickets are going to watch the players that are going to play. They will get the best.B次元官网网址�

Knight took over on the bench from Craig Didmon, who left the team in the off-season after the Grizzlies were eliminated with a crushing triple-overtime defeat to the Coquitlam Express in the third round of last yearB次元官网网址檚 playoffs.

Knight said coming to Sooke has been on his radar for some time.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a couple of years since we have been out there, but it is an area where we get fans from, we see lots of fans coming from Sooke,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l try to bring our game and the way we play to some of our fans and show them some appreciation.B次元官网网址�

Game day features a tailgate party and barbecue at 1 p.m. prior to the 4 p.m. start. All money collected from admissions and fundraisers, including a 50/50 draw and a fastest shot competition, go to Sooke Rotary Club and Sooke Minor Hockey.

Grizzlies forward Cole Pickup said being a part of events like this are an important part of being a player.

B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 thank the community enough for what theyB次元官网网址檝e done for this organization and myself,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey have always been behind us, no matter how tough the times have been. Anything we can help the community with, it feels awesome to help.B次元官网网址�

Come the start of the season, however, the bitter taste of last yearB次元官网网址檚 loss will be on his mind, as he looks forward to having a strong year and a chance at redemption.

B次元官网网址淭his year is a new year with a lot of new faces and a lot of new staff, so weB次元官网网址檙e excited and weB次元官网网址檙e not going for anything but the best,B次元官网网址� the Colwood resident said. B次元官网网址淣o matter if itB次元官网网址檚 an exhibition game, we want to beat Cowichan. We hate those guys, so no matter what, we will be giving B次元官网网址檈r 100 per cent.B次元官网网址�

alim@goldstreamgazette.com