Friday, December 9th, 2011 - Crossover home date with the Royals

Aside from the Grizzlie faithful themselves, my blog article today is a shout out to all the Grizz/Royals fans, neutral fans and for anyone looking to catch a hockey game on Friday night and why choose the Grizzlies v's Vees, 7:15pm, Dec 9th @ Bear Mountain Arena........here's why!!

So Friday, Dec 9th, 2011 sees the first and only crossover game of the season for the BCHL's Victoria Grizzlies and WHL's Victoria Royals. So far so good, the relationship between the Grizzlies and Royals has been professional and supportive. The fact that there is only one crossover home date for the 2011/12 season, certainly helps matters.

Now the 'Dub' is back in town in the form of the Royals, it is a fact, a reality and a league that many Victorian's throughout the CRD are very familiar with and enjoy watching. The Royals average attendance this season has been just over the 6,000 mark.

The first and only crossover date is this coming Friday night, where the Grizzlies face off against the Juggernaut that is the Penticton Vees for their one and only meeting of the season; where the Royals play host to the Lethbridge Hurricane's which visit Victoria's SOFMA only once this season.

So you say to yourself, hmmmmm why pick the Grizzlies v's the Penticton Vees on Friday night?

The Penticton Vees are designed to do one thing this season and one thing only; be the last team standing on May 13th in Humboldt, Saskatchewan and win the RBC cup. Now, this is the plan of every Junior A team across Canada when the season starts. However, the Vees can back it up and have been doing just that all season. The timing was right, the Vees arch-rival Vernon Vipers winners of 2 of the last 3 RBC cups, had lost there Head Coach to the WHL and are in a little bit of a rebuilding mode this season (at least by Vernon standards).
The Vees are simply a juggernaut of a team assembled by Head Coach Fred Harbinson and his coaching staff. Through scouting, networking and the reputation in the South Okanagan of the Vees organisation. Harbinson, in effect has put together what might be the one of the best teams in BCHL history. They are leading the BCHL in the standings and have lost only 3 games all season.

Your saying to yourself, well who's on this team that makes it so good:

Conner Reilly Forward: Top scorer in the BCHL, with 23 goals and 28 assists for 51 points in 27 games. He averages 1.8 points a game and is one of the 3 Reilly brothers on the Vees this season.

Pure sniper from Minnesota

Mario Lucia Forward: The 18 year old is a 2nd round NHL draft pick of the Minnesota Wild.

Mario, is the BCHL's 2nd leading goal scorer with 20 goals and 30 assists for 50 points in 25 games. He is averaging 2 points per game and is a Team USA, U19 player. Big power forward.

Travis St.Denis Forward: Brother of ex-Grizz forward Kyle and a seasoned/deadly BCHL forward. Shunned Cowichan in the off season to join Fred Harbinson's dynamic Vees. Has repaid the Vees as the BCHL 's 5th top goalscorer with 19 goals and 27 assists for 46 points in 23 games. Travis, has a 2 points per game average and has committed to NCAA's Div 1, Qunnipac for next season.

Bryce Gervais Forward: Recently acquired by the Vees from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Has had an excellent two seasons in the BCHL. This season already, Bryce has 25 goals and 15 assists in 28 games this season. Bryce is the BCHL's 7th leading scorer.

Add to these players, forward Joey Benik the 8th leading scorer, Steve Fogerty is the 14th leading scorer, defender Mike Reilly at 34 points and his brother Ryan at 33 points. All 8 of these players are in the top 20 in scoring in the BCHL for the 2011/12 season. Team Captain Logan Johnson, is an impressive/seasoned attacker and would be up amongst the goals even more; if not for a 20 game suspension for a nasty cross check in Coquiltam, before the season started, is back on the ice

With the expert goaltending of the consistent Michael Garteig, who has won 19 of his 23 starts and forced the Grizzlies hand in trading him at the start of the season to become a Vee.

We will also see local boy and former Grizzlies defender Nick Buchannen in a Vees jersey on Friday night as well.

So what do the Vees have....... 8 players in the top 20 in scoring, 3 first lines, an NHL draft pick, stingy defence and all star goaltending.

Now you ask, Dave(me blogger), do the Grizzlies stand a chance against this stacked team. You betcha!

The Grizzlies shouldn't have any issue getting pumped up for a game like this one.

The Vees, may be used to be playing good teams in the Interior like Vernon, Merritt, Westside and Harvey Smyl's Chilliwack Chiefs. But, (this is the Grizzlies ace card)they aren't used to coming up against a top line the quality that the Grizzlies have. Weather it's Myron, Murphy and Moran/Ten Vaanholt on that first line, the Grizzlies are second only to the Vees in scoring for the 2011/12 season so far. The Grizzlies top line is potent and deadly and will be a lot for Penticton to handle.

Wade Murphy Forward: Wade, is 3rd in BCHL scoring this year and has been simply unstoppable with his speed, skill and on ice vision. Has deserved all the accolades he's gotten so far, including some NHL scouting attention. Murph, has 19 goals, 31 assist for 50 points this season including a Junior A prospects game appearance. Is committed to play for the NCAA Merrimack University

Wes Myron Forward: Smart, cerebral play maker who has a nose for goal and is 10th in scoring . Wes is a Team Canada West Gold medallist in the Junior A world's tourney this season. Wes, has 14 goals along with 23 assists for 37 points in 19 games. Myron has an impressive 1.9 points per game average and is commited to play for the NCAA's Boston University next season.

Jarryd Ten Vaanholt Forward: 20 year pick up from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Ten Vaanholt, is a big bodied forward who can score and create. Very patient on the puck has been one of the pick ups of the season so far. Jarryd, is 11th in scoring in the BCHL with 13 goals, 23 assist for 36 points in 28 games.

Mike Moran: The Marshfield, Mass native is 12th in the BCHL scoring charts and is another one of the pick ups of the season. Acquired from the Vees for Nick Buchannen in October. Mike, is a confident puck player and works hard every shift. A welcomed addition to the Grizzlies forward corp and has chipped in with 13 goals, 23 assists for 33 points. Moran is also heading to Boston University next season as well.

With grinders like Kaiser, Lawson and Hansen the Grizzlies will need to bring the 'A' game to defeat the powerhouse Penticton side. Goaltending and defence must be ready to play and subdue that potent Vees attack.

All of this makes for one of the best Junior A games you'll see in Victoria this season, if not the league. With all the talent on display, the prospects and the quality product that is the BCHL, get yourself down to Bear Mtn Arena on Friday night. This is one of those must see games during a season.