Grizzlies enter Doghouse hungry for wins
With the hoopla of the B.C. Hockey League Showcase now over, the Victoria Grizzlies will attempt to get back to the order of business — winning hockey games.
The Island Division-leading 4-1-1-1 Grizzlies head to Alberni Valley to face the 3-2-1 Bulldogs tonight to try to snap a three-game winless skid that does include a tie and double-overtime loss in the last two outings at the Showcase.
“Of course, we wanted to come out with four points, but it’s in the back of everyone’s mind,” Grizzlies assistant captain and leading scorer Cole Pickup said of the Showcase, that draws both NHL and NCAA scouts and places players under a large microscope.
“It’s the Showcase and everyone wants to play their best. We saw Trail and Langley’s best and I think our legs got to us a bit Sunday morning,” he said of the 5-4 2OT loss to the Smoke Eaters.
“All in all, we were happy with the weekend, but the results weren’t totally there, so now it’s a quick turnaround for Wednesday,” said Pickup.
Tonight will be a tough test for the Grizzlies.
“They’re a team that doesn’t stop,” added Pickup. “They play for 60 minutes and work hard. They have more skill this year, from what I’ve seen, and Alberni is always a tough place to play.
“Our older guys will have to show the younger guys the way to play in Alberni and the same goes in Powell River on Saturday night,” he added of the game that follows Friday evening’s home date with Coquitlam. “Those might be the toughest two places to play on the road, at least in our division, for sure.
“We’ll have to show them the ropes and get through those first 10 minutes and after that, roll the dice and see what happens.”
Pickup remains tied for the league lead in points with 12 (5 goals, 7assists) in seven games, while linemates Nathan Looysen and Tyler Welsh have nine and seven points, respectively.
Pickup and Welsh are among a number of Grizzlies who drew interest at the Showcase from colleges south of the border.
“There have been a couple of schools show interest in me and I think things will ramp up in the next week or two. It’s been the most attention I’ve received, for sure,” said Pickup.
As for the team, the Grizzlies played the weekend without Nick Guiney, who is out long-term with a shoulder injury, and defenceman Brett Stirling, who remains questionable for tonight.
The Cowichan Valley Capitals are 4-1-1 and in second place in the Island Division, ahead of Alberni Valley in third. Nanaimo (3-3) is fourth and Powell River (3-4) is fifth and those two teams meet tonight in Powell River.