Victoria Grizzlies veterans would rather have seen their final junior hockey season extend past the weekend.
The season-ending loss to the Chilliwack Chiefs made for an emotional farewell for many Grizzlies players.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e grown up playing here. ItB次元官网网址檚 tough. I remember the first time I learned how to skate just up the hill there (at Juan de Fuca Arena) B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 a tough night for sure,B次元官网网址� said Cole Pickup, who wound up his fourth full year with the club as their leading scorer.
HeB次元官网网址檒l head south to the University of Nebraska-Omaha to play college hockey this fall, but not before donning the green and white jersey of the Victoria Shamrocks junior lacrosse team for one last season. Showing his versatility, he led that outfit in scoring last season as well.
Grizzlies captain Cody Van Lierop, an Ontario native who toiled three seasons on the blueline in Colwood, echoed PickupB次元官网网址檚 difficulty with winding things up as a Grizzly.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 tough to finish the career here. ThereB次元官网网址檚 nothing but good things I can say about this place,B次元官网网址� said Van Lierop, who as yet doesnB次元官网网址檛 have a scholarship deal nailed down. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been my home for the past three years. ItB次元官网网址檚 tough to say goodbye.B次元官网网址�
In total, six Grizzlies players age out of junior this season, the others being local players Nick Guiney and Nathan Looysen, as well as defencemen Jake Stevens and Brett Stirling. Forward Tyler Welsh and goaltender Matthew Galajda will leave the team before their junior eligibility expires to play in college this fall.
Those signficiant losses notwithstanding, head coach and general manager Craig Didmon believes the Grizzlies should have a large group of returning players who will take their turn in the spotlight on next yearB次元官网网址檚 team.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got lots of guys coming back and we want to continue to push to try and get to that league final and get that league championship,B次元官网网址� he said.
Didmon said he expects to have four returning defenceman, which includes Victoria native Drayson Pears and Nico Somerville, an 18-year-old from Port Alberni.
Dayne Finnson, who played key minutes for the Grizzlies all season, will also be eligible to return.
Highly touted recruit Jacson Alexander is due to make his B.C. Hockey League debut for the club. A smooth skating offensive defenceman, the Victoria native was chosen by the Swift Current Broncos in the first round of the 2016 WHL Bantam draft but opted to play for the Grizzlies in order to preserve is NCAA eligibility. He has already committed to play for the University of Denver beginning with the 2019-20 season.
Up front, the Grizzlies should have the services of key contributors Keyvan Mokthari, Justin Michaelian, Timothy Friednmann, Marty Westhaver and Nolan Welsh, TylerB次元官网网址檚 younger brother.
Jordan Guiney, NickB次元官网网址檚 younger brother, produced 32 points in 44 games with the Westshore Wolves and played six games with the Grizzlies this season could also be a name to watch.
In goal, Tony Rehm looks like GalajdaB次元官网网址檚 heir apparent. In 17 regular season games Rehm posted a sparkling 2.19 goals against average and a .932 save percentage.
B次元官网网址淭he recruiting weB次元官网网址檝e done, thereB次元官网网址檚 some real skill players and guys that play with integrity and play hard,B次元官网网址� Didmon said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e very proud of that. We bring in kids in this community that are role models.B次元官网网址�
