Victoria, BC ~ The Victoria Grizzlies announced their year-end awards this morning, highlighting the performances and personnel that made the 2025-26 BCHL campaign what it was.
Most Dedicated Player: Levi Eiter
In his first season in Victoria, Levi made his presence felt with a cool demeanor and consistent performances both on the ice and in the gym. Eiter was always at the top of the list when his teammates spoke about dedication in the gym, and he saw that hard work paid off with a commitment to Bentley University midway through the season. He finished 5th in team scoring with 31 points while also leading the team with three goals in the postseason.
“Tony Burrows” Community Award: Vidar Blixt
Vidar represented the Grizzlies with pride, dignity, and professionalism within the community this season in a way that was special to see. His personal connections with young fans, gracious giving of his time to different initiatives, and promotion of Grizzlies hockey in the Westshore made him a no-brainer winner of this year’s “Tony Burrows” Community Award. The outpouring of love and support for the Swede at the end of the season from Bear Country speaks for itself.
Most Improved Player: Owen Warnick
Most Improved Player sometimes gives the impression of someone who went from weak to acceptable. That is certainly not the case with Owen Warnick, this year’s winner of the Grizzlies mid-year improvement award. The award signals his raised level of play from good to elite during the 2025-26 season. In the first 16 games of the season, the Manitoba native scored five and had nine points. Very good numbers for a first-year player in the league. After that, Warnick closed out the season with 39 points in 37 games (11 G, 28 A) to finish second in team scoring.
Rookie of the Year: Reece Gault
There is no question here who would take home Rookie of the Year for the Grizzlies, with Reece Gault recently being named to the BCHL All-Rookie Team. The 18-year-old’s 44 points this year from the backend were 22 more than the next closest rookie D-man in the BCHL. The Northern Michigan commit was stellar for the Grizzlies down the stretch, quarterbacking the power play and logging big minutes in the postseason.
Top Defenseman: Matthew Jenken
Matthew Jenken led all Grizzlies in average ice time this season, so it is no surprise to see him recognized as the team’s top defenseman this year. Jenken averaged almost 22 minutes of ice time, often pitted against the opposition’s top lines with his season-long partner, Carter Hynes. Matthew also punched in some sneaky offensive numbers as well, netting eight times and finishing the season with 30 points. The twenty-year-old was a welcome addition to the Grizzlies this year while displaying impeccable leadership when they needed it.
Most Inspirational Player: Michael Dowdall
If doing everything at 150% was embodied, it would be the 2025-26 season for Michael Dowdall. Whether it was throwing a massive check, flying around on the forecheck, scoring a timely goal, or shedding the mitts to bring the crowd to their feet, Dowdall did it all for the Grizzlies this year. Michael finished the year with 11 goals, 95 hits, and 120 penalty minutes, making for quite the eye-popping season. A warrior on the ice, he is the deserving winner of the Grizzlies Most Inspirational Player.
Top Scorer Award: Artur Gross
There was no need to adjust to the North American game for Artur Gross, who led the Grizzlies with 20 goals and 53 points in just 43 games this season. The Kazakhstan-born forward was a driving force behind the Grizzlies’ successful second half, finding big goals to help them in key moments. If he could’ve played a full season, his 1.23 points-per-game would land him in 65 points pace territory, which would be t at the top of the BCHL.
Coach’s Award: Maddux Martin
It is hard to imagine the impact that one player can have on a team, a dressing room, and a franchise moving forward. Martin’s acquisition in January not only changed the season but could very well impact the culture, expectations, and lore of the Grizzlies franchise for seasons to come. Needing a character change, Martin came to Victoria and was the antidote needed, scoring 17 goals in 22 games while being one of the best leaders and teammates imaginable. The only taint on his Grizzlies career is that fans didn’t get to enjoy him for longer as he ages out and moves on to the next stop in his hockey career.
Most Valuable Player: Mikus Vecvanags
.611 vs .486. That’s all that needs to be said when breaking down Mikus being named team MVP. Vecvanags saw the Grizzlies’ points go to .611 in games he played vs .486 when he didn’t. His acquisition in January was such a key moment in the Grizzlies’ season that it can only be quantified by looking at the discrepancy in those numbers. In the postseason, Vecvanags put together easily the best goaltending performance in Grizzlies history, and, arguably, the top ever in BCHL history. His 316 saves in the first round were highlighted by his 78 save performance in the Grizzlies game five 2-1 OT win. That mark is the second most in league history. What a season for the Latvian international who etched his name into the Grizzlies’ record books. Mikus Vecvanags, the 2025-26 Victoria Grizzlies MVP.
