Victoria Grizzlies set for tough start to season
Youth will be served in the B.C. Hockey League next season.
In a rarity for junior hockey, two 17-year-old captains will take the opening face-off for the Victoria Grizzlies’ 2018-19 BCHL home opener Sept. 15 against the annual league contender Penticton Vees at The Q Centre.
“I don’t know if that’s ever happened before,” said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon, noting players can play up to the age of 20 in the BCHL.
Victoria captain Alex Newhook is rated top-five overall for the 2019 NHL draft. Penticton captain Massimo Rizzo, also a centre and pro prospect, was the Kamloops Blazers’ 2016 first-round WHL bantam draft pick, but instead has committed to NCAA powerhouse North Dakota.
The BCHL unveiled its regularseason schedule Friday.
The Grizzlies open the season on the road Sept. 8 in Powell River against a familiar foe. The Kings knocked the Grizzlies out of the playoffs this spring in the second round.
“Why make it easy early?” asked Didmon, with a chuckle.
“We get right into the storm right away with teams like Powell River and Penticton. But having strong challenges early is good.”
Two Island Division teams will be in action on opening night, which is Sept. 7, with the Cowichan Valley Capitals in Nanaimo to play the Clippers.
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs open Sept. 8 on the road against the Capitals at Island Savings Centre in Duncan. The Bulldogs’ home opener is Sept. 14 against the Grizzlies at Weyerhaeuser Arena.
The annual Bauer Showcase, in which BCHL teams converge on Chilliwack in one-stop shopping for college and pro scouts, will be Sept. 20-22. Most BCHL teams get to play two regularseason games in the Showcase. The league said the Showcase schedule will be released later this summer.
It is an annual highlight of the BCHL season for a reason.
“Scouts from every NHL and NCAA team are there and that creates a ton of pressure on the kids, who have six periods to show what they’ve got,” said Didmon.
“But learning to play under pressure is a good thing.”
Each BCHL team will play 60 regular-season games, concluding Feb. 24.