As the 2011/12 season has that extra bit or urgency as we know, due to only the top 4 teams in each conference making the playoffs. This translates into how consistant a team must be and taking advantge of home ice is a must. This should be something first and foremost on the Grizzlies mind when they take on Langley on Thursday night.
With what looks like a very potent top line and Mike Moran being charged up on the 2nd line, the scoring end of things looks pretty good right now.
The rest of the team in recent weeks has started to gell and the Grizzlies have lifted themselves off the bottom of the coastal conference.
Jamie Tucker is starting to get some consistancy going and a run of 3 or 4 games with a little puck luck, will hopefully see Jamie string a few more wins together for the month of October.
Just to add, personally, I'd like to see Scott Renner get a little more ice time. Scott, has the ability to cause the oppostion a lot of problems in the neutral zone with his hitting and harressing of the visiting team which seems to cause some promising turn overs. A player like Renner, will prove to be a valuble asset as the season goes on.
From a fans point of view, I was one who breathed a sigh of relief when the first couple of wins came in(I'm sure the team did a lot more). The fact the Grizzlies are almost back to playing .500 hockey and are back in amongst the Coastal Conference pack, has given the season a kick start. Having a settled squad and basically the same starting line up for the last 4/5 games has certainly helped matters.
I'd still like to see the Grizzlies pick up a Kyle Aschim type D-man, an expeirnaced guy who is more of a steady, reliable defender who can add a little offensive when needed.
Are in a familier situation to the Grizz, as a team who welcome back only a handfull of players from last season and are currently looking to put a winning formula into place. The Rivermen, who come into the game bottom of the division,but, do have a number of ex Langley Chiefs who are solid BCHL players like Darnell Dyck, Mike Tebbutt, Austin Pleavy, Ryan Bakken and new Floridian forward Mario Puskarich should prove to be a good test for Victoria. They are coached by former Abbotsford Heat Asst Coach Sean O'Rourke and backed by owner Roy Henderson(Global Hockey Camps) along with his brother Bobby Henderson this is a team that is well coached and run.
Attendence is down a fair bit in Langley, which is the same as most teams in the league. However, with one of the best arena's in Jnr hockey, a new Langley-styled identity, new ownership and a municipality of just over 90,000 this should be solid BCHL franchise for years to come.
In addition the World Junior A championship are being held at the Langley Events Centre from
Nov 7-13, this should cause an extra buzz around the Rivermen as well.
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