Grizzlies’ rookies paired up for U-17 worlds

Alexander, Newhook on same team for World U-17 Hockey Challenge

We all know what the adage says familiarity breeds.

But in this case it certainly won’t be contempt as 16-year-old Victoria Grizzlies rookies Alex Newhook and Jacson Alexander, both touted for the upper rounds of the 2019 NHL draft, were named Monday to Team Canada Black for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

The 66 best 16-year-old players from across the country have been selected for the Canadian Black, Red and White teams that will face the U-17 national teams from the United States, Russia, Czech Republic, Finland and Sweden for the annual tournament which runs this year Nov. 5-11 in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.

“It’s cool that we are on the same team,” said Alexander, a blue-liner who hails from Esquimalt, while Newhook is a forward from St. John’s, Nfld.

“We got a couple of hints [during the evaluation camps] that they were going to do this.”

The significance of the event is not lost on Alexander: “This is a really important tournament because we will be playing against the top U-17 players from other countries.”

Neither is it lost on any of the 66 players selected to the three Canadian teams that this is the start of the process which, for about one-third of them, will eventually lead (after the U-18 level) to the world U-20 championship, popularly known in Canada as the “world juniors.”

“This first chance to wear the Maple Leaf jersey is really special, especially for someone like me who grew up watching the world juniors on TV,” said Alexander, touching on the leap from club to country.

“This is one step closer to that. It’s a progression and you try to do your best at each international level.”

Also named to Team Black was defenceman Luke Reid of the BCHL’s Penticton Vees. Reid was the Victoria Royals’ first pick in the 2016 WHL bantam draft, taken in the second round, but who has instead declared his intentions to play in the NCAA for North Dakota. The Royals still control the five-foot-11 Reid’s WHL playing rights should he change his mind.

Alexander was selected in the first round of that 2016 WHL bantam draft by the Swift Current Broncos, but the Islander also decided to play in the NCAA, at the University Denver, once he graduates from Grade 12.

“[Reid] is similar to me in style,” added the five-foot-nine Alexander.

“We are both two-way defencemen who can make plays at each end of the rink.”

The quick and slicing Newhook, committed to Boston College of the NCAA, showed why pro scouts and national team selectors are so high on him by scoring twice Sunday in the Grizzlies’ 4-1 BCHL victory over the Bulldogs (6-6-3) at Weyerhaeuser Arena in Port Alberni. Tanner Hops and blueliner Matthew Doran scored the other Grizzlies goals while Jamie Rome and defenceman Carter Berger added two assists each. Keaton Mastrodonato replied with Alberni Valley’s lone goal.

Shawn Parkinson of Victoria was named first star for his 37 saves and Colten Lancaster of the Bulldogs cited as the second star for his 34 saves.

“We played the full 60 minutes Sunday, and not 45 or 50 minutes, like we did during our recent four straight losses,” said Alexander. “We are coming along.” The Grizzlies (9-6-1) are in Nanaimo on Wednesday night to face the Clippers (7-7-1)