Brian Drewry / Times Colonist
SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 09:57 PM
The bad news for the Victoria Grizzlies is they now sit at 2-3 on the season after losing both games at the Bauer B.C. Hockey League Showcase.
The good news is, there’s no time to dwell on the back-to-back losses to the Merritt Centennials and Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Thursday and Friday in Chilliwack because they board the bus again this morning to head to Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo to face the Clippers (2-4) in a 2 p.m. faceoff.
“It certainly wasn’t the result we were looking for at the Showcase, but those are difficult games for the players because of all the distractions [NHL and NCAA scouts all around the building], so we’re not overly concerned right now,” said Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon. His club lost 2-1 to the Centennials and 6-3 to the Silverbacks.
“And we have a quick turnaround now, so there’s no sense in worrying about things. You just get right back on the horse.”
One area of concern for the Grizzlies is early goals. The gave up early ones in both Showcase losses, including on the first shot of the game on Friday, 25 seconds in on Grizzlies rookie Keenan Rancier who was making his first BCHL start.
“It’s tough when you give up those early goals, but I thought Keenan did a good job of refocusing and playing fairly well the rest of that period,” Didmon said.
“And the rest of the way, in both games, we did create a lot of chances and played pretty well. We just have to start getting some luck around the net.”
While the top line of captain Alex Newhook, New York Rangers draft pick Riley Hughes and veteran Cameron Thompson, was kept quiet most of the Showcase, the Grizzlies did get some newfound secondary scoring from Marty Westhaver and rookie Jake Veilleux, and the second unit of Ryan Nolan with brothers Charlie and Alex Campbell was buzzing in both games and scored a pretty goal on Friday, with Charlie putting it into the back of the net.
Newhook, committed to Boston College of the NCAA for the fall of 2019, has yet to score this season, although the 17-year-old from Newfoundland does have four assists.
“We did see us start to develop the scoring depth that we’ll need as the season progresses so that was a good sign,” added Didmon.
“And Alex’s line created a lot of chances so we’re not worried about them. They will get their goals.
“It’s really early in the season and we have a lot of new faces so it’s going to take some time so we’re not going to worry too much right now.”
The Grizzlies, Clippers, Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Cowichan Capitals are all tied with four points, while the Powell River Kings lead the Island Division with eight points. The Clippers, Bulldogs (2-4) and Caps (1-3-1-1) have all played a game more than the Grizzlies after the Bulldogs lost 4-1 to Salmon Arm on Saturday at the Showcase and the Capitals fell 2-1 to the Coquitlam Express.
The Grizzlies are in Duncan on Wednesday night to face the Capitals before returning home Friday night to play host to the Chilliwack Chiefs at The Q Centre.
