Alex Newhook is projected for the first round of the 2019 NHL draft.
Photograph By ADRIAN LAM, TIMES COLONIST
Cleve Dheensaw / Times Colonist
MAY 10, 2019 10:07 PM
It was another day, another award for Alex Newhook.
The Victoria Grizzlies captain, ranked 13th among North American skaters and projected for the first round of the 2019 NHL draft next month at Rogers Arena, was named Friday as best forward in the Canadian Junior A Hockey League.
The last BCHL player to win the award was current NHL Colorado Avalanche forward Tyson Jost of the Penticton Vees in 2015-16.
The honour for Newhook comes after being named BCHL MVP while also winning the Brett Hull Trophy as BCHL scoring leader with 102 points.
“It’s definitely cool, and a real honour, considering the large number of teams and players there are across the country in Junior A hockey,” Newhook said.
Newhook beat out fellow CJHL top-forward finalists Dylan Holloway from the Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior League, Brodie MacArthur from the Summerside Western Capitals of the Maritimes Junior League, Josh Tripp of the Swan Valley Stampeders of the Manitoba Junior League and Keighan Gerrie of the Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL).
Newhook is also a finalist for the CJHL MVP award, which will be announced on Wednesday.
The native of St. John’s, N.L., was one of only two Junior A players on the major-junior dominated Canadian team at the IIHF world U-18 championship last month and recorded five goals and five assists for 10 points in seven games. Canada lost to host Sweden 4-3 in the semifinals and 5-2 to the U.S. and projected 2019 NHL draft top-pick Jack Hughes in the bronze-medal game.
Newhook was on a Canadian line with WHL stars and fellow first-round NHL draft-projected forwards Peyton Krebs of the Winnipeg Ice and Dylan Cozens of the Lethbridge Hurricanes and more than proved he belonged, which was not lost on pro scouts.
“It was an honour and great experience to wear the Maple Leaf in international play, and I showed I can play at that level,” Newhook said.
“There were a lot of good players on the Canadian team and I was fortunate to play with such good linemates.”
Asked if their future pro prospects came up in conversation with Krebs and Cozens, Newhook replied: “Not too much because we were focused on the world tournament. But the draft will be an exciting time for us, for sure.”
Before hopping the ferry for the draft, Newhook will finish Grade 12 and graduate from Belmont Secondary en route to Boston College of the NCAA.
This weekend will be spent at the Canada Sevens women’s rugby tournament at Westhills Stadium. Newhook’s girlfriend is fellow Belmont student Carmen Izyk of High River, Alta., who represented Canada at the Youth Olympic Games and is on the Langford-based national development sevens squad and targeted for the senior national team.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
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