Vernon awarded the 2014 RBC Cup

Not done with competing in three of the last four RBC Cups, the Vernon Vipers have been awarded the 2014 RBC cup tournament.
Having experienced the Vernon Wesbild Multiplex first hand, it is by far one of the finest Junior Hockey rinks in Western Canada. As being a Vipers fan is a way of life for most Vernonites, you can bet that the Vipers will make the 2014 RBC Cup a roaring success. Junior A hockey fans(certainly in BC) should be excited for 2014.

Congratulations to the Vipers organisation and the city of Vernon.

Wesbild Centre

Grizzlies starting to come out of Hibernation

Times Colonist

So, to say Grizzlies fans might be getting a little antsy might be an understatement. It’s getting towards the end of May and we are wondering the following, who's coaching, what's going on with the ownership and where do we stand with players coming in for the new season.

Well it does look like things are progressing with ownership, after what was reported in the Times Colonist on Tuesday, with Ron Walchuk looking to buy out Len Barrie and potentially one or two of the other owners as well. Walchuk, is no stranger in Victoria hockey circles after being part of the former management team for the successful South Island Thunderbirds of the Major Midget League latley. From the Thunderbirds the Grizzles have seen in recent years, Wade Murphy, Wes Myron, Nolan DeJong and Ron's son, the promising David Walchuk show there talents at Bear Mtn Arena. In Ron Walchuk the Grizzlies would have in place a successful businessman who knows how to handle the Junior Hockey world. With the ownership rumoured to be in place soon, the other chips will start to fall into place.

You then would assume the Coaching would be announced soon after and then player signings along with the futures coming to the club at that point from the numerous trades.
Speaking of those futures, Penticton, Vernon (Jared Soleway and Turner Lawson rumoured to be in from the Vipers), Prince George and MJHL's Dauphin Kings owing numerous futures to the Grizzlies at this time. With this comes expectations as commented on by the Grizzlies management team at the end of last season, with the players coming in expected to make the Grizzlies an automatic contender.

The wildcard in amongst this deck of cards during the 2012 Grizzlies off season, is Wade Murphy. Murphy, after his trade to Penticton didn't skip a beat, becoming one of their go to guys and a major reason the Vees where as successful as they were in the post season and the RBC Cup. Now, with Wade being regarded as one of the best players in Junior A across the country and a player who is expected to be drafted in this year’s NHL draft in Pittsburgh, you have to think the sky's the limit for Murph right now. One scenario could be a similar outcome as to what Jamie Benn experienced. With Benn entering his 2nd season with the Grizzlies in 2007 and fresh off of being drafted by the Dallas Stars, the Stars encouraged Benn to take his Junior game to the next level and before you knew it; Jamie spent the next two seasons ripping up the scoring charts with the WHL's Kelowna Rockets and representing Team Canada at the world Juniors.

With Murphy’s rights held being held(I believe) by the WHL's, Victoria Royals and also recently being drafted by the Major Junior equivalent league in the states, the USHL ,courtesy of the Green bay Gamblers. Wade has some options before heading off to the NCAA’s Merrimack University in 2013. But, for the black and gold, a return to Grizzlies colours would be a dream come true and gives the Grizzlies the best offensive player since Tyler Bozak (my opinion). on the roster for opening day. In what was set up as part of the originally Wade Murphy trade to Penticton, Murphy was rumoured to becoming back to the Grizzlies for this upcoming season. We will have to wait and see how this scenario plays out.

Whatever happens in the next couple of weeks, we can be sure it will be steps in the right direction for this organization. A new stable ownership, a fresh coaching team and a number of futures and prospects to complement the likes of Gonzales, Hansen, McLellan, Lawson, Powell, DeJong, Kaiser and Bilious to name a few, you can’t help but think………we’ve got ourselves a team. Bring on the 2012/13 season.

Victoria Grizzlies on Proboards

On this page fans, friends, players and everyone else can post to a topic or start a new one entirely. Several people have asked us wh...y they can not post directly on this page and the answer is simple--if everyone was posting here there would be no room for photos, videos, notices and general information to be posted. So we created a Forum where all your comments can be seen and replied to by other fans. I think our Grizzlies have the most knowledgeable fans in the whole BCHL. It only takes a minute to sign up, get a password and log in. Hope you enjoy it and I can't wait to see what all of our Grizzlies fans have to say! ALL comments are welcome but please, no cutting individuals or players down! If you have an idea you would like passed on to the Grizz management please put it on our new Forum. I wish I knew how to put a permanent link to this new site on our Grizzlies Official Home page but I cant find a way. If anyone knows haw to do that on our Great New look Facebook please let me know on our new Forum page! Thanks Tony


http://victoriagrizzlies.proboards.com/

Happy 20th Birthday Chase Kasier

Happy 20th Birthday to Chase Kaiser who turned 20 on Saturday, May 18th.
Chase who goes into his final year of Junior eligibility, will be called upon to build on his success and leadership role with the Grizzlies, for the upcoming season. You can be sure that Chase will be a big part of the 2012/13 version of the Victoria Grizzlies.

Chase Kaiser

Happy Birthday Chase!!!

If you would like to contact Grizz Roar

If you have any comments or suggestions for the Grizz Roar Blog, please email:
Grizzroarblog@hotmail.com

We'd love to hear from you!

Penticton Vees National Champions - 2012

So it can be said, it's mission accomplished for the Penticton Vees and Fred Harbinson. After months of assembling an all star team in the summer of 2011, 9-10 months later the hard work and recruiting has paid off in the form of the 2012 RBC Cup/National Championship.
After a record breaking 54 win and 101 point season in the BCHL, with no less than 16 NCAA commitments (Murphy's while a Grizzlie) the Vees can be proud of what they've done in the 2011/12 season.
Although they had to grind out a few victories and suffered a couple of early set-backs in a closer and more competitive RBC tournament than expected; the Vees defeated the MJAHL's Woodstock Slammers 4-3 in the final yesterday, which was broadcast nationally on TSN.
After going behind 3-2 to the Slammers in the third and with Woodstock running into some penalty issues in the last frame,a  Bryce Gervias goal and the go ahead marker from Joey Benik with one minute to go, would see a BCHL team crowned RBC victors, for the third time in four years in quite dramatic style.
It again shows the class and standard of what the BCHL has to offer compared to the rest of the Junior A leagues in the country.But, on the showing of the last couple of RBC Cups, the gap in quality/standard between some of the Jnr A leagues is getting much closer.
The five teams in this years tourney gave us a great show and some very competative games.
Humboldt, had an incredible season and tournament going 4-0 in the round robin before being eliminated. Despite the heart break of the semi finals, great effort Broncos.
Woodstock, took out the Broncos in the semi finals and put some pride and credibility back into the MJAHL, and not before time with Summerside hosting next years tournament.
The Soo Thunderbirds battled hard and caused a couple of upsets and can be proud of what they did this year.
The Portage Terriers I'm sure will be disappointed that they didnt make it into the semi-finals,but, given there usual status as MJHL powerhouse,s they'll be back.

Which bring me back to the Penticton Vees. Certain BCHL fans of a number of the other teams(certainly Vernon), would love or hate this version of the 2011/12 Vees, due to the talent and dominance this year. However, after watching the likes of the three Reilly brothers, Wade Murphy, Steve Fogerty, Joey Benik, Mario Lucia, Travis St.Denis, Curtis Loik, Nick Buchanan and Michael Garteig to name a few, this years Penticton Vees deserve their place in the record books and BCHL folk lore.

On a local note, congrats to Victoria boys Wade Murphy, Nick Buchanan and Chad Kautner on a incredible season. Wade, hope to see you back in a Grizzlies uniform soon and Nick all the best in Minnesota and with your NCAA career.

The site all Grizzlies fans want to see next season

2102 RBC Final happening now!!!

The BCHL powerhouse Penticton Vees take on the surprise package on the tournament, the Woodstock Slammers from the Maritime Junior Hockey League in the 2012 RBC final.

This game is happening now on TSN.

Good luck to ex-Grizzlies Wade Murphy and Nick Buchanan.