Dynamic duo: Newhook, Rome have Grizzlies in high gear
GAME DAY: VICTORIA AT ALBERNI VALLEY 7 p.m. at Weyerhaeuser Arena Broadcast: mixlr.com
It’s amazing how less stressful and easier life can be for a B.C. Hockey League team — and, in particular, a coaching staff — when it can score seven to nine goals a game.
The Victoria Grizzlies are breathing a little easier after popping those 16 goals by Island Division opponents over the weekend, via 9-4 and 7-4 victories over Nanaimo and Powell River, respectively, snapping a fivegame losing skid.
They now set their sights on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in an away contest tonight at 7 before returning home for a pair of home dates this weekend to close out the 2017 portion of the schedule before the Christmas break.
“Yeah, it’s quite nice,” said 16year-old scoring sensation Alex Newhook, who was named BCHL player of the week for the second time after recording 10 points in his last three games. “I just think for us, we’ve been outplaying a lot of teams lately, but we’ve been waiting for bounces to come our way.
“We found that this weekend with guys finding the back of the net. It’s definitely good for our team.”
Newhook, who had four-point outings in both of the two wins, has hit it off on a new line with Jamie Rome and Ethan Nother.
Newhook — who has 14 points in his last eight games, including six goals — has found his way in his first BCHL season, with 12 goals and 35 points in 28 games to date, tied for 10th heading into Tuesday play. He also has six multiple-assist games and nine multiple-point performances overall as he establishes himself as an obvious rookie of the year candidate.
Rome, of Calgary, has 11 goals and 19 assists in 32 games and after a slow start, in which he had just four points in seven games, the veteran has collected 15 points in his last 12.
Nother, of London, Ont., started strong with nine points in his first 10 games in the league, then stalled out with eight in the next 21, but has potted five points in the last three.
The line was put together after a 5-3 loss in Cowichan Valley and before the two big wins.
“I think it’s working out,” said Newhook, of St. John’s, Nfld. “Our line is working well together and we’ve got good chemistry going. We seem to be finding the back of the net so far and we hope to continue to do that and keep producing in helping our team the way we are.”
Rome, the veteran on the line who is bound for Western Michigan of the NCAA next fall, was in full agreement.
“The line seemed to work pretty well on the weekend and, hopefully, we can keep that going,” he said. “If we can keep that offensive production going and along with our defensive zone coverage, which is getting better, we’ll keep getting wins.
“It’s definitely a change from what we were doing there for a while,” he added of the sudden surge in scoring.
“We couldn’t seem to find the back of the net no matter what we did. Luckily, now all the pucks are going in and hopefully we keep this going, for sure.”
Newhook, who is committed to Boston College for the fall of 2019 and is touted as a possible firstround pick in the NHL draft in two years time, has proven he can play at this level.
“I got a lot of help from my teammates and linemates, especially. They’re putting the puck in the net a fair bit, which helps me and it’s good for the team,” said the well-spoken teenager, who has seven assists in the last two games.
Can he become a top five league scorer or rookie of the year in the second half? Time will tell.
“You never know. It would be great to get up there, but I’m just going to keep worrying about creating as much as I can and that stuff will come,” he said of reaching the top five.
As for rookie of the year, he isn’t sweating that either.
“That would definitely be a big title and a big deal, for sure, but I’m not going to worry about that either — that’s something that will come as well, if and when they decide. Hopefully, I just keep playing the way I am, keep this going here and get some more wins.”