Newhook key to Grizzlies’ fortunes
While the Victoria Grizzlies gathered at The Q Centre on Monday afternoon for exit meetings and one last fun scrimmage before saying their goodbyes, talk immediately switched to who will be returning for the 2018-19 season, and in particular, the reigning B.C. Hockey League rookie of the year.
Alex Newhook is coming off an impressive first year in the BCHL which saw him finish eighth in league scoring with 66 points in 45 games despite missing the last month of the regular season with an injury. And in September he will begin the most important season of his young career because it will be the 17-year-old’s draft year for the 2019 NHL draft. The St. John’s N.L., product has committed to play NCAA hockey for Boston College in the fall of 2019, but the team that holds his majorjunior rights — the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League — would also like him to continue his junior career with them, and forgo his college eligibility.
So Newhook, who lives with his aunt and attends Belmont Secondary in Langford while playing for Victoria, has a decision to make this summer, but right now, he expects to be sporting a Grizzlies logo on the front of his jersey next season.
“That’s the plan,” said Newhook, whom The Hockey News has ranked No. 2 in the early rankings for the 2019 NHL draft, which just happens to be scheduled for Rogers Arena in Vancouver in late-June of 2019.
“I had a great time here, and obviously it’s not 100 per cent because other options might pop up, but right now I’m looking forward to coming back to Victoria and having a great season because we have some real good players coming back.”
Newhook, who also missed time with the Grizzlies in November to play in the World U-17 Hockey Challenge, will be invited to try out for Canada’s U-18 team for the Ivan Hlinka world U-18 championship tournament in August, And he is fully aware of what’s to come next season.
“A draft year is big for anyone in that position so obviously I’m really excited for it and it should be a lot of fun, but right now I’m just focused on this summer and getting my training in.”
And a chance to wear Canadian colours wouldn’t hurt either.
“Making that U-18 team is a big goal for me this summer,” he added “To play for a Canadian team is really something special so hopefully I get that chance.”
For now, Newhook will pack his bags and depart Wednesday for the long trek back to Newfoundland.
“I’m going home and going to finish the school year with my buddies so that’ll be fun and just to try to relax for a bit before getting back into training.”
Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon knows full well what it would mean to have Newhook in his lineup next season, not only on the ice, but off it.
“Obviously, Alex is special kid and with him, [T.J.] Friedmann and [Cam] Thompson returning, I don’t think there’ll be a better 1-2-3 at centre in the entire league,” said Didmon.
“And to have a great player in his draft year, it brings a lot of attention to the organization, which is a good thing, and it also helps with recruitment because other players know there will be NHL scouts in the building most nights.”
Didmon expects to have 12 to 13 players return from the team that played 12 playoff games this season before being eliminated in the Island Division final last weekend at the hands of the Powell River Kings.
Among them is offensive defenceman Carter Berger. The 18-year-old from North Vancouver was tied for the team lead in scoring by defenceman in the playoffs with eight points.
“With Carter ready to take the next step and have a big year, and [Cole] Noble and [Nico] Sommerville also returning, there’s a good core on the blue line to build with,” said Didmon.
“And with as many as seven forwards returning, it’s a good group going forward.”
The Grizzlies also have the luxury of returning both goaltenders. Kurtis Chapman, 19, and Zack Rose, 18, had strong regular seasons and Chapman finished the playoffs with a 2.17 goal-against average in nine games. Rose, who’s committted to Bowling Green of the NCAA for the fall of 2019, backstopped Team Canada Black to a gold medal at the World Junior A Challenge in December.
“We basically have two No. 1 goalies coming back so it gives us some options,” added Didmon. “We barely had two healthy goalies all season so having both back would be great, but we’ll have to see what unfolds in the summer.”
The Grizzlies will also be losing some key parts as several players move on to NCAA careers. Leading scorer Jamie Rome will head to Western Michigan in September, while veteran defenceman Dayne Finnson is off to University of Alabama-Huntsville, and fellow blue-liner Matt Doran to the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
And the longest serving blueliner, local product Drayson Pears, will pack his bags for the University of Alaska-Anchorage. For Pears, who missed much of the early season with an injury but had a strong playoff, the end to the season is bittersweet.”
“It’s disappointing to have it end earlier than we wanted to,” said Pears, who had two goals and eight points in the playoffs.
“But I’m excited for the next four years at Alaska, and happy for the organization because they have a great group of guys coming back.”
Pears, who was handed the ‘C’ when captain Lucas Clark was sent home one week before playoffs for violating team rules, said he’s proud of the way the team overcame several obstacles at the end of the season.
“Any time you lose your captain it’s a tough thing for a team to go through, because the timing couldn’t have been worse,” said Pears.
“It was handled properly by everyone involved but it added to the adversity we had with the injuries at the end of the regular season. But we fought through it and still had some success so I think that bodes well for the future here.”