Grizzlies newcomer won’t face former team
In bizarre trade stipulation, Capitals demand Gobeil not play tonight
Victoria Grizzlies fans who didn’t get a chance to see newcomer Thomas Gobeil in his first game in Sunday’s 5-3 win over the Coquitlam Express and were thinking of heading to Duncan tonight to see him play his former team, can save themselves a trip.
One of the stipulations to the trade that brought the talented 20-year-old over from the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Saturday, was that Gobeil not play his former club in tonight’s 7:15 matchup at the Island Savings Centre.
Gobeil could not be reached for comment Monday but his coach explained the situation.
“This 11th hour [trade deadline] stuff; there’s not much you can do,” said Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon, who was disappointed in not being able to play his new recruit.
“I’m extremely happy with what he brought to the dressing room before [Sunday’s] game though — the response to the players and just the fact that he played a great 200-foot game.
“He brings more physicality to the lineup down the middle and the biggest recipient of that is going to be Brett Gruber,” Didmon said of his other top centreman. “He’s a young player who has been keyed on the last month and this will be an opportunity where he will not always be the other team’s focus.
“I think it gives us a triple-threat, really, with three solid offensive lines.”
The 1,135 fans at The Q Centre witnessed just that and also enjoyed The Green Men as they were on hand as part of their farewell tour.
Gobeil played on a line with Jay Mackie and Garrett Forster. He was kept off the scoresheet, but showed a lot of flair on the unit as Forster had a goal and Mackie had one helper.
The Gruber, Matt Kennedy and Dane Gibson line benefited greatly, however, as Didmon now has a solid 1-2 punch to throw at opponents. Cole Pickup, Shawn McBride and P.J. Conlon form the third line for the Grizzlies.
Gruber had a goal and an assist, while Kennedy tallied once and Gibson had a goal and two assists in the victory, which snapped a threegame winless skid. All three losses (one in overtime) were to the Powell River Kings, who the Grizzlies are attempting to catch for second place in the standings.
Jake Emilio had the other goal, his eighth as a defenceman. Six of those have come on the power play and Sunday’s was while skating short-handed on a nice giveand-go with Pickup.
“That’s the thing with adding another top-six guy, it doesn’t only make the top six better, it makes the bottom six better as well,” said Mackie. “It’s like I said earlier this year about trying to run over teams line-by-line, it should make it easier for us to do that now.
“He’s got that pro size, speed and skill and a nice set of hands to go with that,” Mackie added of his new linemate, Gobeil. “You have to simplify when you’re playing with a guy like him, trying to get him the puck. He’s a shooter, too. He’s fun to play with and I enjoyed that.”
The Grizzlies managed 43 shots on goal against Coquitlam’s Chris Tai, while Mike Stiliadis faced 24.
IN THE DEN: Storm Wahlrab — who was traded to Estevan of the SJHL but did not want to report and was subsequently released by the Grizzlies to make room for Gobeil — is joining the Fort Worth-based Lone Star Brahmas of the North American Hockey League. “He’s been one of the guys I’ve been with here the whole time,” said Mackie. “It’s tough to see a teammate go, but it’s even tougher to see a close friend go. Hopefully he has a lot of success the rest of the year.”