Victoria Grizzlies News

GRIZZLIES VETERAN IS EAGER TO CHIP IN

GRIZZLIES VETERAN IS EAGER TO CHIP IN

September 18, 2009 Sharie Epp ©Times Colonist -

Alex Allan might have expected to lose a few games with the Victoria Grizzlies this season, but not lose his three front teeth.

The 20-year-old forward from Calgary, was hit in the mouth by a puck that careened off the boards during a preseason game in Sooke. Nobody was able to find the teeth in the slush, so Allan now has a partial plate.

“The first day it felt really weird,” said Allan, who’s gradually getting used to the idea. He won’t, however, be wearing his new teeth tonight, when the Grizzlies travel to Port Alberni, and attempt to take a bite out of the Bulldogs.

“They’re a hard-working team,” Allan said about the ’Dogs, who looked good in the preseason, but were trounced 9-1 by Powell River in their first game of the B.C. Hockey League season. “It doesn’t matter what the score, they’ll really be playing with a lot of energy.”

The Grizzlies are 1-1 on the season, after edging Nanaimo 5-4 and losing 1-0 to Powell River last weekend. Tomorrow, when the Grizzlies play host to Nanaimo at Bear Mountain, starting at 7:15 p.m., fans will get their first glimpse of the new look team.

One of five players in his final year of junior hockey, Allan played in Prince George last year, and before that the Olds Grizzlys (where he committed to NCAA Div. 1 Alabama Huntsville). He’s still looking for the perfect fit in Victoria though. Coach Victor Gervais has been shuffling lines, and Allan, who had 54 points in 59 games with the Spruce Kings, is expected to play on a line with Dustin Mowrey and Massimo Lamacchia in Alberni.

“We’re going to see him score here soon,” Gervais said, happy with Allan’s performance and vocal leadership on the bench. “He’s playing well, and he’s really good on the power play. You can tell he’s a veteran out there.”

Despite being a multisport athlete growing up, Alan said he’s always been a hockey-first kind of guy, and played Midget Triple-A in Calgary. He’s fast, and has good vision on the ice.

“I like to be a playmaker,” he said.

Allan had his scholarship deferred a year, so he could improve his academic standing. Having grandparents and other family in Victoria, combined with less travel than there was in Prince George, will allow more time to hit the books, while focusing on improving his game.

“I want to prove that I can be a top player in this league, and that I can play at the college level and handle the academic side as well,” he said. “I want to balance both sides at a high level.”

And hopefully do it with the rest of his teeth intact.

BEAR TRACKS: The Grizzlies have named veteran defenceman Jordan Heywood as team captain. … Cody Abby and Craig Eisenhut have been traded to the Williams Lake Timberwolves for future considerations. … Ryan Bradley, whose father Scott Bradley recently passed away, was released to the Junior B Kerry Park Islanders.