Grizzlies Hockey Scholarship Information
The BCHL is Providing More Hockey Scholarships Than Ever!
The BCHL currently (2023) has 411 alumni playing NCAA Division I college hockey, which makes up 23.41 per cent of all Division I players. The league also recently announced a new record for Division I committed players in a single season with 174. Every year the BCHL has a Showcase where NCAA schools attend and recruit players. In addition multiple NHL scouts are in attendance looking at players on-ice performance to be considered for the NHL entry draft. Currently the Grizzlies have Jamie Benn, Tyson Barrie, and Alex Newhook playing in the NHL.
BCHL Overview
The BCHL is comprised of 21 teams, two conferences within four divisions.
The Coastal West Division will feature the; Alberni Valley Bulldogs, Cowichan Valley Capitals, Nanaimo Clippers, Powell River Kings and Victoria Grizzlies. The Coastal East Division will include the Chilliwack Chiefs, Coquitlam Express, Langley Rivermen, Prince George Spruce Kings and Surrey Eagles. These two divisions will make up the Coastal Conference.
The Interior West Division include the Penticton Vees, Salmon Arm Silverbacks, Trail Smoke Eaters, Vernon Vipers and West Kelowna Warriors. The Interior East Division teams are the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Cranbrook Bucks, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints. These two divisions make up the Interior Conference.
Junior Hockey
There are 25 players per team and 20 dress for each game. Ages range from 16 to 20 and only 6 twenty- year-old’s are allowed. The BCHL schedule of 54 games commences in September and concludes in March, then the playoffs begin finishing off in early May. This year, 2024-25 marks the 63rd for the BCHL going back to its inception in 1961 that has certainly stood the test of time and one that has enriched so many people’s lives. The BCHL is a proud leader in the development of players for both Canadian and USA college hockey and it has grown into the largest Canadian feeder league for NCAA college hockey with multiple players receiving hockey scholarships to play at the NCAA Division One level.
The Victoria Grizzlies Organization
In 1994 the Victoria Salsa was born and played under that name for 12 years but in 2006 the name was changed to the Victoria Grizzlies, and in 2024 the franchise is celebrating 30 years in the league. The team plays out of Victoria, BC, Canada.
NCAA – The Next Step
The NCAA has 3 Divisions in Hockey:
- Div I = is the gold standard having 64 schools and the one players strive for
- Div II = has only 7 schools and they play against division III schools
- DIV III = has 95 schools, does not offer scholarships, only financial-aid
The NCAA is comprised of six Div I Conferences:
- Atlantic Hockey (AH)
- National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC)
- Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC)
- Hockey East (HE)
- Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)
- Big Ten Conference (BTC).
Div I Hockey Scholarships Information
At the Div 1 level, teams typically carry 22 to 26 players and they are permitted to grant 18 athletic scholarships. Scholarships vary from college to college and can range from 30,000.00 to over 70,000.00 US dollars per year. Schools are allowed 18 full scholarships and most often the monies are distributed among the 22 to 26 players as partials such as 25%/50%/75%. Many high end players can get what is known as a “full ride” scholarship. Athletic scholarships includes school tuition, books, food, lodgings, and athletic equipment. In addition to the 18 hockey scholarships, there is another pocket of money available for players having very high academics, and the team can access this money as well.
The NCAA Experience
NCAA college hockey stresses training, conditioning and skill development. Student-athletes receive top-notch academic support, quality medical care and regular access to outstanding coaching, facilities and equipment with a practice-to-game ratio of at least two-to-one. This allows time for strength and conditioning work and development without the fear of being traded to another team and city.
College hockey is played primarily on weekends to maximize class and study time and allow student athletes to enjoy the full college experience while becoming part of the campus community. Every Friday and Saturday night during the college hockey season, two teams play in front of an arena full of hyped-up fellow students, fans and multiple NHL scouts. As many as ten thousand fans sing their school “fight song” after every goal with some schools having a band attend the games. Because every game of a 40-game season carries such significance, they are played at a highly competitive level. Did you know that in today’s NHL, 1/3 of players is populated by players who come from NCAA colleges.
Steps Required For NCAA Hockey Scholarships:
STEP ONE – Registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center
NCAA Eligibility Center (also referred to as the Clearinghouse) is the organization that maintains a database of a students high school transcripts from grades 9 to 12 requiring a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.3%=65%. Colleges refer to this for entrance requirements at the university.
STEP TWO – Required 16 NCAA Core Courses
NCAA 16 Core Courses taken during grades 9 to 12 and include the following:
- 4 years of English (English Literature, Writing, English Lang/Comp).
- 3 years of Principles of Math.
- 2 years of Social Science (Geography, History, Social Studies, Psychology, Law, Economics, Criminology, Humanities, Comparative Civilizations, European History, BC First Nations Studies, Introduction to Civic Studies).
- 2 years of Natural/Physical Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Geology, Science, Environmental Studies).
- 1 extra year of either Math, English or Natural/Physical Science.
- 4 years of extra core courses (from any category above), or from foreign language i.e. French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Mandarin, or religion or philosophy.
STEP THREE – Getting Noticed On The Ice
This is where it all starts.
During the BCHL season players will compete in a number of games in front of NCAA and NHL scouts. The most important games are held during the BCHL’s annual Showcase where all BCHL teams play in front of many NCAA and NHL scouts. Each team will play 2 games all in the same arena. In 2022 the league held the showcase in Chilliwack, BC, Canada. Every Showcase game is typically followed by interviews from scouts who are looking to judge character and start a relationship with the athletes off the ice. Of course every time a player hits the ice in a BCHL uniform or attends class someone will be watching, so every second counts in your journey!
Major Junior Hockey: the NCAA considers major junior hockey to be professional hockey. Student-athletes will lose all athletic eligibility to compete in NCAA Div I hockey if they: sign a contract (WHL Player Agreement) with a major junior team; attend a major junior training camp for more than 48 hours and having your expenses paid by the major junior team; and compete in any type of major junior game.
Major Junior Hockey is in the hockey business while the BCHL is in the education business. The pace and speed of the BCHL rival any Canadian junior hockey league in Canada.
Play It Smart – Play College Hockey
College coaches have committed their careers to developing great players and solid citizens. Players are tested and develop under intense conditions but with a strong support system both on and off the ice without fear of being traded to another team and city.
Victoria Salsa/Grizzlies Scholarship Achievements
- Travis Bell – Cornell University
- Steve Taylor – Camrose College
- Julien Jorgenson – Merrimack College
- Dennis Ladoucer – Cornell University
- Jarret Metz – Bemidji State
- Jesse Fibeger – U of Minnesota-Duluth – Drafted Anaheim Mighty Ducks 1998 Round 7-178th overall
- Mark Kosick – U of Michigan – Drafted Carolina Hurricanes 1998 Round 8-211th overall
- Greg Barber – U of Denver – Drafted Boston Bruins 1999 Round 7-207th
- Matt Pettinger – U of Denver – Drafted Washington Capitals 2000 Round 2-43th overall
- Kris Goodjohn – Union College
- Jason Kean – Union College
- David Neale – U of Denver
- Jimi St. John – U of Mass-Lowell
- Greg Zanon – U of Nebraska-Omaha – Drafted Ottawa Senators 2000 Round 5-156th overall
- Terry Wilson – St. Norbert College
- Rob Vega – U of Wisconsin
- Rob Rideout – U of Ottawa
- Ian Fletcher – Alabama-Huntsville
- Mike Fraser – Iona College
- Mike Funk – Alabama-Huntsville
- Martin Kariya – U of Maine
- Dan Samuelson – U of Nebraska-Omaha
- Owen Walters – Brown University
- Kelly Hughes – Cornell University
- Trevor McCall – Iona College
- Jordan Siglet – Bowling Green – Drafted Boston Bruins 2001 Round 7-209th overall
- Jeff Mushaluk – Lake Superior State
- Pierre Napier-Frenette – Holy Cross
- Brian McCormick – St. Cloud State
- Curtis Fraser – Alaska Fairbanks
- Craig Zubersky – U of Nebraska-Omaha
- Aaron Voros – Alaska Fairbanks – Drafted New Jersey Devils 2001 Round 8-229th overall
- Kirk MacDonald – RPI
- Steve Sigaty – Brown University
- Brent Williams – Iona College
- Spence Gilchrist – Iona College
- Dan Meneghin – Alaska Anchorage
- Ryan Robin – American International College
- Ryan O’Byrne – Cornell University – Drafted Montreal Canadiens 2003 Round 3-79th overall
- Kyle Greentree – Alaska Fairbanks – Free agent Philadelphia Flyers 2007
- Aaron Brocklhurst – St. Cloud State
- Tyler Chewinski – Alaska Fairbanks
- Blair Tasssone – Alaska Anchorage
- Matt Siddall – Northern Michigan
- Wylie Rogers – Alaska Fairbanks
- Andrew Switzer – U of Lethbridge
- Tim Crowder – Michigan State – Drafted Pittsburgh Penguins 2005 Round 5-126th overall
- Clayton Lainsbury – Northern Michigan
- Adam Naglich – Alaska Fairbanks
- Justin Binab – Alaska Fairbanks
- Josh Duncan – Quinnipiac
- Derek Knowles – U of Guelph
- Jeff Gagnon – St. Scholastica
- Jordan Baird – St. Scholastica
- Chad Betts – SAIT
- Robert Forshner – Holy Cross
- Dayne Davis – U of Charlottetown
- Andrew Rebus – Geneseo
- Garry Nunn – Minnesota State
- Jamie Benn – Alaska Fairbanks – Drafted Dallas Stars 2007 Round 5-129th overall
- Jordie Benn – Alaska Fairbanks – Free agent Dallas Stars 2011
- Jordan McIntyre – Wisconsin River Falls
- Keyvan Hunt – Western University
- Ron Meyers – Alaska Fairbanks
- Kevin Petrovello – Alaska Fairbanks
- Paul Kolida – Portage Voyageurs
- Tyler Bozak – U of Denver – Free agent Toronto Maple Leafs 2009
- Anthony Greco – Western University
- Shawn Stuart – Union College
- Lee Baldwin – Alaska Anchorage
- Brian Nugent – Northern Michigan
- Derek Lee – Wisconsin
- Jordan Heywood – Merrimack
- Justin Courtnall – Boston University – Drafted Tampa Bay Lightning 2007 Round 7-210th overall
- Dustin Mowrey – Cornell
- Alan Alex – Alabama-Huntsville
- Ryan Holfels – U of Saskatchewan
- Mitch Labreche – Simon Fraser University
- Graeme Strukoff – Alabama-Huntsville
- Braxton Bilous – Merrimack
- Evan Richardson – Boston College
- David Morley – St. Cloud State
- Joel Lowry – Cornell
- Kyle Aschim – U of Saskatchewan
- Matt Ginn – Holy Cross
- Justin Fillion – Michigan Tech
- Bryce Twa – Westfield State
- Madison Dias – Cornell
- Jake Baker – Northern Michigan
- Nick Buchanan – Minnesota State
- Wesley Myron – Boston University – Drafted Vancouver Canucks 2012 Round 6-177th overall
- Sean Robertson – Merrimack
- Alex Holland – Merrimack
- Wade Murphy – Merrimack
- Michael Moran – Boston University
- DJ Jones – Bemidji State
- Nolan de Jong – U of Michigan
- Brady Rouleau – Quinnipiac
- Mitch Meek – Clarkson
- Blake Thompson – St. Norbert College
- Gerry Fitzgerald – Bemidji State
- Leo Fitzgerald – Bemidji State
- Myles Fitzgerald – Bemidji State
- Myles Powell – RIT
- Brandon Egli – U of Massachusetts
- Alex Dillon – RPI – Drafted Los Angeles Kings 2014 Round 5-150th overall
- Rory McGuire – Colgate University
- Jesse Schwartz – U of Connecticut
- Mark McLellan – Middlebury College
- Travis Stephens – Middlebury College
- Jaden Schmeisser – Minnesota State
- David Walchuk – Lake Forrest College
- Chris Albertini – U of Ontario
- Miers Moore – RPI
- Jay Mackie – Holy Cross
- Brett Gruber – Arizona State
- Matt Kennedy – Arizona State
- Dane Gibson – U of Maine
- Jake Emilio – Colorado College
- Sean Cleary – Umass-Lowell
- Shawn McBride – American International College
- Zachary Rose – Bowling Green
- Brayden Gelsinger – Lake Superior State
- PJ Conlon – Amherst College
- Dante Hahn – Concordia University
- Kevin Massy – SAIT
- Matthew Galadja – Cornell
- Cole Pickup – U of Nebraska-Omaha
- Jake Stevens – St. Lawrence University
- Tyler Welsh – Yale University
- Nathan Looysen – Brock University
- Keyvan Mokhtari – Colorado College
- Nick Guiney – Concordia University Wisconsin
- Brett Stirling – Connecticut College
- Cody Van Lierop – U of Ottawa
- Tony Rehm – Alaska Fairbanks
- Drayson Pears – Alaska Anchorage
- Jamie Rome – Western Michigan
- TJ Friedmann – Quinnipiac University
- Matt Doran – Alaska Fairbanks
- Dayne Finnson – Alabama-Huntsville
- Ethen Nother – Bemidji State
- Shawn O’Malley – Aurora University
- Justin Michalian – Ferris State University
- Riley Hughes – Northeastern – Drafted New York Rangers 2018 Round 7-216th overall
- Alex Newhook – Boston College – Drafted Colorado Avalanche 2019 Round1-16th overall
- Alex Campbell – Clarkson – Drafted Nashville Predators 2019 Round 3-65th overall
- Jeremie Bucheler – Northeastern University
- Ryan Nolan – Merrimack College
- Kenny Johnson – Penn State University
- Cole Noble – Royal Military College
- Carter Berger – U of Connecticut – Drafted Florida Panthers 2019 Round 4-106th overall
- Kurtis Chapman – Mount Royal University
- Cam Thompson – Dalhousie University
- Brandan Bowie – St. Lawrence University
- James Davenport – Northeastern University
- Chase McInnis – Northeastern University
- Cody Monds – Providence College
- Nico Somerville – American International College
- Joe Howe – Cornell University
- Vincent Nardone – U of Nebraska Omaha
- Henri Schreifels – RPI
- Marty Westhaver – Long Island University
- Trevor Bishop – Western Michigan
- Alex DiPaolo – Colgate University
- Eddy Yan – U of Toronto
- Brady MacDonald – Dartmouth College
- Andrew Amousse – American International College
- Isack Bandu – Northern Michigan
- Jake Veilleux – U of Connecticut
- Reid Lindsay – Hobart College
- Ellis Rickwood – Clarkson University
- Connor Eddy – Northern Michigan
- Eli Barnett – U of Vermont – Drafted San Jose Sharks 2022 Round 7-195th overall
- Matthew Wood – U of Connecticut – Drafted Nashville Predators 2023 Round 1-15th overall
- Jack Gorton – Boston University
- Jackson Morehouse – Dartmouth College
- Kalen Szeto – Yale University
- Cole Schwebius – U of British Columbia
- Ansel Holt – US Army West Point
- Tim Busconi – Dartmouth University
- Luc Pelletier – Princeton University
- Owen Bohn – Augustana University
- Hoyt Stanley – Cornell University – Drafted Ottawa Senators 2023 Round 4-108th overall
- Nathan King – Merrimack College
- Reegan Hiscock – Cornell University
- Noah Leibel – Hamilton College
- Devon deVries – Hamilton College
- Anthony Carone – Holy Cross
- Chase Pirtle – Cornell University
- Jacksenn Hungle – Canisius University
- Charlie Gollob – Brown University
- Richard Baran – Arizona State University
- Oliver Genest – Colgate University
- Tobias Pitka – Boston College
- Tyler Waram – Alaska University
- Oliver Auyeung-Ashton – Colgate University
- Malcolm Green – Princeton University
- Ranvir Gill-Shane – U of Toronto
- Deven Nagra – U of Nevada Las Vegas
- Elliot Dutil – U of Ottawa
- Drew Hockley – Quinnipiac University