Depth key for new-look Grizzlies
GAME DAY: VICTORIA AT COWICHAN VALLEY 7 p.m. at Island Savings Centre
The $64,000 question, as the Victoria Grizzlies head into the 2015-16 B.C. Hockey League season opener tonight in Duncan, is — just where will the goals come from?
It’s more than a fair query as general manager and head coach Craig Didmon looks to replace scoring up front.
The Grizzlies top eight players in points last season are gone including Dane Gibson’s 89 points, Brett Gruber (67), Jay Mackie (59), Matthew Kennedy (53), defenceman Meirs Moore (47), Garrett Forster (45), Thomas Gobeil (40) and Shawn McBride (34).
Didmon did bring in Brayden Gelsinger in a trade for Forster and will rely on his veterans and recruits, much like he did last year when the Fitzgerald triplets moved on.
“We’re going to score by committee, but we’re going to expect some of our returning players to step it up early,” Didmon said, referring to veterans P.J. Conlon, Cole Pickup, Gelsinger and even Nick Guiney to carry the early load. “I think we can get some offence from the defence as well.
“The [J.D.] Falconers, [Joey] Viscontis and the [Corey] Iapaluccis have scored all their lives. Tyler Welsh can also put the puck in the net. It’s a matter of them coming in and doing those things. And if I’ve forgotten anyone, I expect them to score, too,” added Didmon, garnering a chuckle.
As is the case most years, there is a large turnover to replace with just eight veterans back. One of them is captain Conlon, who has been through this scenario before.
“It’s a question that many teams face every year with players graduating. I know the year I came in the Fitzgerald triplets were gone and they were asking the same questions,” he said. “I think we’re going to be that score-by-committee type of team. We have a mobile back end and we have some forwards who can put the puck in the net. I think we have a strong group and I don’t think scoring will be an issue.”
Pickup, an assistant captain, is in the same position.
“We had the same problem when the Fitzgeralds left, everyone wondering who would be stepping up. We had guys who we thought would be bottom-six guys who put up 20, 25, 30 goals,” he said of last season’s team that finished 29-18-1-10 and second in the Island division.
“I think a lot of people in Victoria expect a lot out of me, and so do I,” added Pickup. “Guys like me and P.J., and Gelsinger, the guys who have been around a little bit longer, need to step up and have a bigger role on the team. Like Dids [Didmon] always says, everyone always has a role, but there are bigger roles and there needs to be shoes filled from last year.”
The Grizzlies, as a team, scored 219 goals last year and surrendered 210 against. Didmon wants to see a better plus-minus ratio in that department and it all starts tonight in Duncan against the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
“It’s an exciting time, obviously,” said Conlon. “The pre-season went well and we’re starting to come together as a team, but the regular season is a whole different environment with a faster pace.
“Obviously, with Cowichan, it’s a familiar foe for us with some former players [Ayden MacDonald, Chris Harpur and Mitch Meek] there. There’s been that rivalry there over the years and I think it’s going to be a great game and hopefully we come out on the right end of it.”
The Grizzlies will also have to get used to life on the road early because of the Mann Cup and Kraft Hockeyville game being played at The Q Centre. Victoria will not play at home (technically, one of the BCHL Showcase games is designated a home game) until Oct. 1 when Coquitlam pays a visit. The newest BCHL franchise, the Wenatchee Wild, venture to the Island on Dec. 12.
The first five are on the road and the Grizzlies only play eight of the first 19 at home.