The Victoria Grizzlies took the eventual B.C. Hockey League-champion Surrey Eagles to six games during the second round of last spring’s playoffs.
But Rylan Ferster has been around the game long enough to know you can’t rest on your laurels.
And the Grizzlies general manager and head coach isn’t as he gets set for the start of training camp.
With a strong returning core that includes former BCHL rookie of the year, goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton, and team leading scorer Chase Pirtle, Ferster has added an impressive group of new recruits. But as he heads into his third season at the Grizzlies’ helm, Ferster knows that when September rolls around, it’s always back to drawing board.
“Sure, we did pretty well in the playoffs, but we’re starting over now, and that has to be the mentality,” said Ferster, whose club will hold fitness testing today at The Q Centre before opening on-ice sessions on Monday at Juan de Fuca Arena.
“Every team, whether you’re in the NHL or junior hockey, starts over every September so you can’t focus on the past, you have to look forward and focus on what you have to do to be successful.”
The Grizzlies will have 40 players in camp with 10 of those back from last year’s squad. Pirtle, who led the Grizzlies in goals with 25 and points with 52 in 54 games last season, is the key returning piece to the Grizzlies’ puzzle. But big years are also expected from veteran forwards Reegan Hiscock, Ryan Watt, Julian Cull, Jacksenn Hungle, Malcolm Green and Boston College-committed Tobias Pitka, who will miss the early part of training camp as he’s with Team Slovakia at an Olympic qualifying tournament in Europe.
“Our veterans are going to be the key for us and I really like the group we have returning,” Ferster said. “But it comes down to how their offseason went and can they take the next step this season.”
The newcomers group isn’t too shabby either. Defenceman Daniil Dolzhenko is from Omsk, Russia, via the Wisconsin Windigo of the North American Hockey League, where last season he had 22 points in 53 games. And they’ll need the 20-year-old Dolzhenko’s experience as Drew Hockley is the lone returning blue-liner for the Grizzlies this season.
Up front, the talented list of newcomers includes a speedy and skilled centre with a rather familiar last name. Tom Molson is from Montreal where his dad, Geoff, is owner and president of the Montreal Canadiens.
The younger Molson spent last season sporting the ‘C’ for Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts where he racked up 43 points in 26 games. He arrived in Victoria early and is itching to get on the ice.
“I’m looking forward to showcasing my abilities and getting to know the guys better and start developing some chemistry both on and off the ice,” said the 19-year-old Molson, who is NCAA committed to Ivy League school Yale University.
“I think I can add creativity and energy to the lineup. I like to think outside the box to create chances, but, of course, sometimes you have to keep it simple.”
Alex Hebblethwaite is another newcomer who comes West with some offensive punch. The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., is coming off back-to-back 55-point seasons with the Niagara Falls Canucks of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and is NCAA committed to Rochester Institute of Technology.
Finn Kallay brings some youth to the Grizzlies lineup as the 17-year-old St. Albert, Alta., product comes over from the Northern Alberta Extreme program where he had 31 points in 30 games.
On defence, big Denny Monohan comes over from the Merritt Centennials and the 18-year-old’s six-foot-five frame will be a welcome addition to a new-look Grizzlies blue line.
Another big body on the back line is likely to be Carter Hynes. The 17-year-old, six-foot-four product of St. John’s, Nfld., spent last season with the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewn Junior Hockey League where he had 24 points in 56 games.
Looking to add some offensive flair to the Grizzlies’ blue line is Tyson Moss. The 17-year-old from Port Moody racked up 49 points in 36 games for the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs last season and was named the B.C. Elite Hockey League’s top defenceman.
There shouldn’t be any problems in the crease for the Grizzlies this year as a pair of 19-year-olds look ready to dominate. Auyeung-Ashton returns for his third season and the Coquitlam native will be looking to stay healthy as he missed most of the second half of the year last season but still went 14-8-1 with a 3.05 goals-against average. The season before, Auyeung-Ashton, who will head to Colgate of the NCAA next fall, was named the BCHL rookie of the year going 21-14-5 with a 2.48 GAA. Auyeung-Ashton is expected to be backed up by Jason Cai. The Basking Ridge, New Jersey, native went 36-13-0 with a 2.59 GAA for the New Jersey Rockets U-18 AAA team last season.
“We had a good summer recruiting and now it’s time to go to work,” Ferster said.
“We want to be that hard-working team who plays a great 200-foot game and who has very good special teams. That’s how we’re going to have success.”
Following four days of training camp sessions, the Grizzlies start the preseason schedule on Friday night in Port Alberni against the Bulldogs. They’ll face the Cowichan Valley Capitals in Duncan on Saturday night. Victoria will play home preseason games at The Q Centre on Sept. 14 against the Nanaimo Clippers and Sept. 15 against the Powell River Kings.
The Grizzlies open the BCHL regular season with two games against the Kings in Powell River on Sept. 20 and 21.
