Introducing Your Victoria Grizzlies Captain for 2012/13 - Zac Urban

New Captain Zach Urban with Grizzlies GM/Head Coach Bill Bestwick

Welcome to the Victoria Grizzlies Zach Urban, and congratulations on being named Team Captain! At a press conference at 12 noon today the Grizzlies announced that they had chosen Zach Urban as our captain for the 2012-13 season. Zach was born in 1993 and is 18 years old. He comes from Bow Valley Alberta. He is a big guy at 6' 2” and weighing 181 lbs! He plays defence. In 2010-11 Zach played 39 games with the Penticton Lakers of the KIJHL scoring 8 points and getting 160 minutes in penalty minutes. In 10-11 season he also played 1 game for Vernon Vipers and 5 games for the Powell River Kings. In 2011-12 Zach played the entire season with the Penticton Vees and had the thrill of being with them when they won the Royal Bank Cup! He played 58 regular season games with the Vees and scored 4 goals and 18 assists for a 22 point total! And he only had 88 penalty minutes that season!! In the Doyle Cup Zach played 5 games, and in the RBC he played 6 games and helped them get the Championship! Mike and Roy did a video interview with Zach and we will be publishing it on our Grizzlies Official Home Facebook page soon. I am so glad that the Grizzlies have announced the choice of a captain this early. It shows that the management and ownership are really serious about getting stability into our club. Knowing who the key guys are behind the bench and on the ice I am sure will help to give a player who is thinking about coming to Victoria to play hockey a lot more confidence in our organization. A big surprise at the press conference was a visit from a former Grizzlies player and ex-Team Captain Brian Nugent. So many of our fans have fond recollections of when “Nooge” played for us. He is still his old self-loving to talk to us fans. Something to look forward to-- Nooge says that his Christmas break is going to be a bit longer this year and he is going to try to make one of our Grizzlies games during this break. No guarantees, but he would love to be able to meet all his old fans again. Still truly a gentleman! Stay tuned on our Facebook page. Mike and Roy did a video interview with him at the press conference. And another surprise was being able to meet Brett Hartskamp. This eloquent centreman had played for Bill Bestwick in the past and says he is really happy to be with the Victoria Grizzlies this year. Glad to have you with us Brett! I can't wait to watch you play! And we had some of our local players at the press release also. Thanks to Nolan De Jong, Dave Walchuk and Chase Kaiser for coming out to support the new-comers! Nolan is filling out fast and is focused as always! He is going to be someone to reckon with this season! Dave Walchuk's shoulder has healed up 100% but he is sporting a cast on one finger due to a little collision with a fast moving object recently!!! However he assures me it will be healed by the Camp. And Chase Kaiser looks very debonaire sporting a full beard! It was great meeting these guys again and having a chance to chat with them about how their summer was going!! Have a look at the Victoria Grizzlies website and check out the roster. Our team is starting to shape up beautifully! And while on that subject—Congratulations to Vickie Macilroy and cohort John who is keeping our website up to date this season. The website looks Grrrrrreat! Tony

Penticton Vees - Victoria Grizzlies Trade

The Grizzlies added another important roster piece on Tuesday, when they added Penticton Vees
 D-man DJ Jones in exchange for forward Alex Holland(who was subsequently traded to Trail).
Jones, a 20 year old American, out of Hockey State USA, Minnesota started last season with the Surrey Eagles before a mid season trade to the RBC Cup winning Penticton Vees. When the Vees added Jones at the deadline last season, they added a defender who plays smart hockey in his own zone, doesn't turn over the puck a lot and can really lay a hit. Now combine Jones experienced gained with the Vees lasts season and his familiarity with some of the other former Vees on the roster such as Zach Urban and Chad Bonner, Jones should be an excellent addition to Victoria as Bill Bestwick's Grizzlies really start to take shape.
Jones, with the Eagles and Vess combinded scored 2 goals, 10 assists for 12 points and played every game for Penticton during the Doyle and RBC cups.
DJ(Donald J Jones), is in his last year of Junior and is committed to the NCAA's, Army US Military Academy for the 2013-14 season.

DJ Jones

Welcome to the the Grizzlies DJ.



Going in exchange to the Vees and who was than traded to Trail, is forward Alex Holland. Holland,
who spent most of last season on the 2nd and 3rd line, turned into a really useful member of the Grizzlies attacking core. Alex, was certainly a player after the deadline who took full advantage of his increased ice time and finished up the season after playing 60 games with an impressives tally of 34 points in his BCHL rookie year. Holland, not the greatest skater on the roster lasts eason, but, certainly a hard worker, a player with great hockey instincts and a nose for goal, got a well earned scholarship to Merrimack Collage for the 2013-14 season. This trade, looks like it could work out very well for Holland. as I could easily see him step up and play on the first line for the Smokies this year.

Alex Holland

Good luck with the Smoke Eaters, Alex.

Recent Roster Moves

The Grizzlies have announced that they have released forwards Mitchell Smith, Mike Sandor, Mitchell Smith and goalie Nick Taylor.
Credit to  Nick, Mitch and Mike as they battled night in and night out in a difficult last two months of the season. I'm sure Nick, Mitchell and Taylor will be pick up by other Junior teams soon or before the season starts.

19 yr old Mitchell Smith, who rejoined the team at the deadline after being released early on in the season, played 9 games for the Grizzlies with 2 goals and 1 assist for 3 points. Mitchell also spent some time with the Prince George Spruce Kings as well last season.

Michell Smith

Mike Sandor, who came to the Grizzlies after being an AP the previous season and played with the KIJHL's Penticton Lakers for 2010/11 year. Mike played 56 games for the Grizzlies scoring 6 goals with 7 assists for 13 points. You could really see the improvement in Mike's game, with the extra ice time he was getting and should be an effective player at the level if given another chance with a Junior A team.

Mike Sandor

Nick Taylor, was signed by the Grizzlies from the PIJHL's Port Moody Black Panthers, just after the deadline due to Garrett Rockafellow's injury and went onto form a tandem with Taylor Pears that was facing on average about 45-50 shots a night, in the last two months of the season.
Nick, who lost 4 games and had one tie in 10 appearances for the team, played a lot better than his record suggests,

Nick Taylor

As both Nick and Mike where going into there final year of junior eligibility and each BCHL team is allowed to carry only six 20 year olds at a time. As this frees up two 20 yr old spots as Bill Bestwick looks to put his own stamp on the team

Look for more roster moves coming up soon as Bill and Craig, put together a Grizzlies team that should be a contender for this upcoming season.


All the best to Mitchell, Mike and Nick for the upcoming season!

A Look at the new Grizzlies New Uniforms for 2012/12 season

Barring a tweak or two, at the Grizzlies volunteer introduction night to meet the new Grizzlies Owners and the Grizzlies Coaches, showed a sneak peak of what the new uniforms will look like next season.

Here is a look at the White, Black and the Yellow third jersey.

Kevin Smith to UBC

Former Grizzlies captain Kevin Smith has accepted a scholarship to play for the
UBC Thunderbirds of the CIS.
Smith, who came in at the trade deadline last season, after being released by the WHL's Kelowna Rockets really showed his calibre of play as an attacking defenceman who was relied upon like an on ice coach, after the Grizzlies roster moves at the deadline.
Smith, in 15 game as a Grizzlie, had 10 assists and 8 PIM in the 2011/12 season.
Kevin, joins a UBC team who struggled with a record of just under.500 last season on a team which included former BCHLers Jason Yee, Max Grassi and Ben Schmidt.

Good luck at UBC Kevin.

Geoff Courtnall and Ryan O'Byrne named special advisers to the new Ownership

Yet more signs that RonWalchuk and the Grizzlies ownership are serious about taking this franchise forward in the community and the league.
The Grizzlies have announced that former NHLer and ex-Grizzlies Head Coach, Geoff Courtnall and current Colorado NHLer and former Salsa/Grizz Defenceman, Ryan O'Byrne will be special advisers to the new Ownership and GM.
Hiring a team of professionals and two men who are very familiar with the team and Junior A hockey in Victoria area, to promote and bring ideas forward to help this club; is a great move from Walchuk and the VISE showing that they really want to get this team back on the map.

More details as they become available.

Victoria Grizzlies - Westside Warriors Trade

The Bestwick/Didmon era is starting to take shape and a clear sign of that was in the big trade made this week, involving sending popular Grizzlies Defenceman Braxton Bilous and goalie Garrett Rockafellow to Rylan Ferster's Westside Warriors. In exchange the Grizzlies receive goalie Brady Rouleau, who is coming off a solid season spent mostly with the Cowichan Valley Capitals and forward Garrett Skrbich who played 50 games for the Warriors last season
Trades where certainly expected, given the fact that the Grizzlies where carrying 8 defenders and
D-man Bilous who had spent the last 2 years with the Grizz, gets a fresh start in West Kelowna with the Warriors.

Braxton Bilous

Bilous, who has already committed to Merrimack University for the 2013/14 season, showed the type of player defender he can be at the Junior A level last season, but, injuries did cost him at times during 2011/12.
In Braxton's rookie year in 2010/11, it looked like a steep learning curve for him after coming up from the MML, but, showing the enthusiasm and determination he did, you could tell the talent is there.
Last season, Braxton showed a lot more confidence in his game and was certainly starting to add the physical side of competing in Junior A to his game.
Going forward, a fresh start with a new club should be a great opportunity for Braxton and in Rylan Ferster, he will be coached by one of BCHL's best.

Garrett Rockafellow, made a strong case for himself showing he can be a starting goaltender in the BCHL before injuries ended hiss eason after New Years. After a few shaky starts on a Grizzlies team which was often undermanned, Rockafellow's won 5, lost 15 record shouldn't be a knock against his performances. Many nights 'Rocks' really kept the damage down, as a depleted Grizzlies line up struggled to compete on occasion. Garrett, made a number of spectacular saves and his rebound control and confidence really improved as the season went on.

Garrett 'Rocks' Rockafellow

Considering the Grizzlies situation last season, Garrett's 4.50 GAA average is very respectable.
Rockafellow will be competing with the Warriors other recently acquired goaltender, Tyler Biggs,for the starting job in Westside.

Brady Rouleau playing for the AJHL's Canmore Eagles

Coming to the Grizzlies in exchange ,in a move which should further strengthen the squad. are goaltender Brady Rouleau who should be a bonifide BCHL starter.
Rouleau, a 19 yr old from Lethbridge was impressive in his first season in the league, coming over to  the Cowichan Valley Captials from the AJHL's Canmore Eagles, before an end of season trade to Westside.
Rouleau in 22 games was spectacular for the Caps, sporting  12 wins and 8 losses with a very impressive 2.81 GAA. I remember a game in mid-December games last season, where the Caps beat the Grizzlies 4-2 at Bear Mtn Arena, where Rouleau really stole the game for the Caps.
Rouleau, will be relied upon to carry the load in goal for the Grizzlies for this upcoming season.

Season                             Team                                                GP    W    L   T   GAA 2011/12                        Westside Warriors                               22     12   8    0      2.81

Garrett Skrbich

19 yr old Garrett Skrbich, a forward from hockey state USA, Minnesota comes to the Grizzlies after completing his rookie year last season with the Warriors. Already committed to Princeton University for the 2013/14 season, Skrbich, was a regular with the Warriors playing 50 games scoring 7 goals and adding 5 assists.
With a number of starting jobs up for grabs, Skrbich will be given every opportunity to show the Grizzlies what an asset he can be to his new team this season.

Season	Team	GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
2011 - 2012	Westside Warriors	50	7	5	12	0.2

Brett Hartskamp signs for the Grizzlies

Traded last season to the MJHL's Swan Valley Stampeders, former Nanaimo Clipper, Brett Hartskamp finds himself back in the BCHL and under the tutelage of Bill Bestwick once more.The Grizzlies give up futures to Swan Valley at this time for Brett.
Hartskamp, who has had a tough time with injuires over the last two seasons, will be looking to build on his 21 points total in 44 games for the Clippers last season.
Going into the 2012/13 season, Hartskamp will be entering his last year of junior and will be looking to take his game to next level and at the same time add experience and leadership to a young Grizzlies line up.
From watching Hartskamp a couple of times last seaosn, one thing that stood out was his work ethic and a player that looks to make something happen each time he's on the ice.

Welcome the the Grizzlies, Brett.

Season                                          Team                                     GP    G    A   PTS  PPG          

2011 - 2012 Season	Nanaimo Clippers	44	11	10	21	0.5
2010 - 2011 Season	Nanaimo Clippers	24	7	10	17	0.7
2009 - 2010 Season	Nanaimo Clippers	2	0	0	0	0.0

Eben Norman a Victoria Grizzlie

Announced yesterday, 18 yr old Defenceman, Eben Norman has signed for the Victoria Grizzlies for the upcoming season.
18 year old Norman, a Vancouver native comes to the Grizzlies from the PIJHL's Jnr B, North Delta Devils and had a respectable 7 points and 53 PIM's, in his rookie season as a 17 year old.
At 6'3', 180lbs, Norman could be a force to be reckoned in the BCHL and his arrival makes the current Grizzlies defence ranks a little bigger. The Grizzlies now have a total of 9 D-man on the roster at this time, so some movement in this area might be inevitable soon.
Eben, is the second former North Delta Devil to come to the Grizzlies in recent seasons, joining the high flying Coltyn Hansen in Victoria.

Eben, welcome to Victoria!!

Craig Didmon confirmed as Asst GM/Asst Coach

As speculated in local media and on the blog, Craig Didmon as been confirmed as Asst GM/Asst Coach to Bill Bestwick. Didmon, who's knowledge, experience and influence in coaching circles around the Victoria/Vancouver Island and BC hockey circles is highly respected and a man known for his technical knowledge of the game, gives the Grizzlies one of the best Coaching teams in the BCHL alongside Bestwick.
This is simply a smart hockey move by the new Grizzlies ownership VISE(Vancouver Island Sports Entertainment) and as mentioned in Mario Annicchiarico article in the Colonist today, Didmon is focusing on bringing in quality young local players to the organisation, is a step in right direction considering how many quality minor hockey organisations there are in the Greater Victoria area. Craig's experience coaching the South Island Thunderbirds(Major Midget League), gives him an excellent local knowledge of the local bantam/midget players who could make the jump to the Junior A ranks in the coming years, giving the Grizzlies an edge on the recruiting side of things.
As one Grizzlies fan who was disappointed not to see Craig get the Head Coaches job with the Grizzlies a few years ago, its nice to see coach of his calibre back with the organisation.

Welcome home Craig!!!!!!!

Happy Canada Day From The Grizz Roar Blog

Happy Canada Day, Grizzlies Fans!!!!!!!

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