Victoria Grizzlies News
GRIZZLIES HIT THE ROAD WITH EYES ON MOVING UP BCHL STANDINGSFebruary 02, 2010 Sharie Epp ©Times Colonist - The Victoria Grizzlies are focusing on this week’s road trip like it’s a playoff series. With only nine games remaining on Victoria’s regular B.C. Hockey League season schedule, including games in Westside tonight, Quesnel tomorrow, Prince George on Saturday, and Williams Lake on Sunday, hockey is getting down to crunch time. “We’ve got to go [on the road], and we’ve got to pick our game up,” Victoria coach Victor Gervais said. The Grizzlies had a ripping eight-game winning streak to begin 2010, but have been going through a bit of a slump since then. Two losses followed the winning run, and the team was still not up to par in a 4-1 victory over the Prince George Spruce Kings on Sunday. They’re looking at the trip as a way to get back to full form. “I felt our team was getting too high,” Gervais said about the winning streak. “We’ve had a couple of losses now, and have settled down a couple of notches. “I think it’s kind of healthy. You don’t want the guys to get too high.” With a full card of bodies to choose from, Gervais has been changing up his lines, experimenting with different combinations, and players are battling for spots. The switching has disrupted the flow a little, but once the positions are set, the team should settle into a playoff routine. Playoff ice time might well be decided by this week’s performance on the road. “I think [Gervais] is going to go with who’s playing hard. That’s what the coach needs to do down the stretch,” said Heywood, who has reminded the Grizzlies’ young players that the team hasn’t earned anything yet. “I don’t think it should come down to who’s done what through the year.” The Grizzlies, tied with Langley for third place in the Coastal Conference, are only three points away from the second-place Powell River Kings, with a game in hand. To jump past the Kings would give Victoria home-ice advantage in the playoffs. Where that advantage really might come into play is in the second round semifinals, Heywood said, thinking about some of the more difficult places to be visitors. “If you’re playing somewhere like Powell River, it can make a big difference.” The Grizzlies play Powell River twice before the end of the schedule, and getting good results on the road would be good way to begin the chase. “We’re right there,” Gervais said. “This trip is very important for us coming up.” BEAR TRACKS: Twenty members of the Powell River Kings will be torch bearers today, when the Olympic flame makes its way through Powell River. Each player is carrying the torch 50 metres. . . . Former Grizzlies forward Trevor Hertz was named the player of the week in the BCHL. Hertz posted three goals and five assists in three games last weekend for the Quesnel Millionaires. . . . Cowichan Valley Capitals defenceman Shayne Taker has earned a scholarship to Notre Dame for next season.
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