Victoria Grizzlies v Penticton Vees - 7:15pm, Friday, Oct 12th @ Bear Mountain Arena

 

Grizzlies Family Night

 

Wade Murphy’s, league leading Penticton Vees come into the Grizzlies den on Friday night, sporting the BCHL’s best record with 9 wins and only 1 loss on the season so far. The reigning RBC Champs appear to have started where they left off last season , even after losing some key players from that RBC cup winning team.

Gone are Joey Benik, the three Reilly brothers, Steve Fogarty and Travis St.Denis. But, in come BCHL vet Sam Mellor(former Trail player) who decommited from Alaska-Anchorage for another Junior A stint with Fred Harbinson’s Vees. Add the impressive Ontario import Micheal Rebry and of course, Murph. The Vees are a dangerous a proposition once more and with one of the most highly regarded Junior A programs in North America, they continue to be the class of the league. Penticton boasts two familiar faces to Victoria junior hockey fans and I’m sure will have a strong local support in, Vees goalies Chad Katuner and Nic Renyard. Two impressive young goaltenders, both from Victoria who are forming the backbone of the Vees title defence.

Now, with the Vees another stacked roster, this will prove to be quite the test for the Grizzlies who have hit a slight bump in the road from recent results.

Now are the Vees invincible? Quick answer to that, No!

During the showcase credit to Pentiction, they defeated both the Vernon Vipers and the Chiefs, but, where outplayed at times and where lucky to bag both victories. This isn’t to take anything away from the Vees, who did well to grind out the wins, but, you feel this year’s version in Penticton isn’t quite the offensive juggernaut that the 2011/12 side where.

However, former Vee and the centre piece of the Murphy trade coming back to the Grizzlies, is our captain Zach Urban. Zach, I’m sure will need no motivation to put one over on his old mates and show Fred Harbinson’s team that the Grizzlies are a force to be reckoned again in the Bill Bestwick era.  Urban ,who really looks to have settled into the team in the last few games, is a presence on the ice with his size and the team really looks to Urban for that leadership.

The Grizzlies have had a positive start to the season and with DJ Jones and Nolan DeJong in good form, which gives the Grizzlies a potent threat from the back to help the forwards every time. With secondary scoring starting to come around, the Rouleau/Stiliadis tandem solid after ten games and the triplets continuing there good form; the Grizzlies will give Penticton all they can handle.

The black and gold still lead the Island division tied with Alberni on thirteen points.

The Grizzlies should welcome Justin Coachman and David Mazurak back from suspension and they may be a debut for recently acquired defenseman, Chris Albertini from Ontario.

At this time, forward Reid Jackman has left the team under suspension and is awaiting a trade.

 So what you waiting for, it’s family night , great deals to be head and two of the best Junior A teams in the country battling it on Friday night. Murph’s back in town and this should be one of the toughest tests for your Victoria Grizzlies this season.

 

Family night information:

Friday, Oct 12 is Family Night with Victoria Grizzlies. Join us for the
puck drop at 7:15pm as the Grizzlies take on the defending RBC Cup
national champion Penticton Vees in a showdown between two of the top
teams in the BCHL. and celebrate this great game - Friday is first of
several Family Nights with the Grizzlies. Each paid Adult ticket entitles
two kids - 16 years of age and under to get in for FREE. Or put another
way - Mom and Dad (or Grandpa and Grandma!) can buy each buy a ticket and
bring their four kids or grand kids for FREE!

We'll see you at Bear Mountain Arena next Friday!