The B.C. Hockey League on Friday released the list of the 16 alumni on NHL opening-week rosters, including Jamie Benn and Alex Newhook of the Victoria Grizzlies and Kent Johnson from the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Perhaps it’s only fitting that the Grizzlies and Smoke Eaters meet tonight at 6 p.m. at The Q Centre in an early inter-conference marquee match-up, even if it is the annual powerhouse Penticton Vees who top the BCHL list with three players — Troy Stecher of the Edmonton Oilers, Dante Fabbro of the Nashville Predators and Mike Reilly of the New York Islanders.
“I’ve been in the BCHL a long time and it’s a great league that is only getting better,” said Grizzlies head coach and GM Rylan Ferster, in referring to the number of BCHL alumni in the NHL, which leads all Junior A leagues in Canada.
Regarding current on-ice matters, Ferster expressed satisfaction with his club’s 5-1 start to the season, particularly in the various ways the early record has been built.
“I like the way we have competed early on,” he said.
“We have both battled back and held leads.”
An early-season highlight has been the play of Grizzlies defenceman Drew Hockley, who is second in league scoring with six goals and 12 points in six games and recently earned an NCAA Div. 1 scholarship to Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Grizzlies forward Reegan Hiscock is tied for fifth with 10 points, including a league second-best seven goals.
Trail, meanwhile, was 4-2-1 heading into Friday night’s late-finishing game in Port Alberni against the Bulldogs (3-2-1). The Smoke Eaters have 12 players committed to NCAA Div. 1 scholarships, including five to the Rochester Institute of Technology.
“Trail is a really good team and so are we. I think there will be scouts here,” said Grizzlies owner Jim Hartshorne.
Ferster said his video scouting shows a Smoke Eaters team with very few weaknesses across the board: “Trail is one of the best teams in the Interior Conference. They are fast and skilled and solid in all three zones.”
Meanwhile, at the Cowichan Community Centre on Friday night, the Nanaimo Clippers (3-3-1) beat the Capitals (2-5) 4-1.
