Victoria Grizzlies fans will require a roster to identify recruits as the B.C. Hockey League team opens up training camp on Monday at Juan de Fuca Arena, especially if you’re focusing from the blue line back.
With just Mitch Meek and Chris Albertini returning for the upcoming 2013-14 season, it is a revamped back line for general manager and head coach Bill Bestwick, whose troops hit the ice Monday at 3:30 and 6:15 p.m.
In net, Alec Dillon and Nic Renyard are new, as are defencemen Alex Adams, Nick Charif, Jacob Kearley and Rory McGuire. Rearguard Brandon Egli, who suited up in seven games last year as an affiliated player with Victoria, is also back. Dillon was at camp last season and saw some pre-season action before joining the Westshore Wolves of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
“We have lots of holes to fill as we did [lose] several players to scholarships and age. It’s a new look for our team,” said Bestwick.
“I think there’s going to be competition at all positions. What does it look like right now? I don’t know. I hope players make it so that we are undecided,” he said, adding that players change over the off season. “That’s the beauty of training camps. A lot can [have happened] in these kids’ improvement over the last four months.”
As is the case each season, there were some surprises.
Bestwick said Adam Moody chose to remain at home in Kingston, although his name is now on the Cowichan Valley Capitals’ roster.
And Stefan Nicholishen decided mid-week he will not return.
Bestwick is excited about the new recruits, including Charif, a six-foot, 190-pound defenceman from the South Side Athletic Club in Edmonton.
“Charif is one of our earlier recruits. A real strong player who will fill the departure of D.J. Jones or Nolan De Jong or Zach Urban or Jaden Schmeisser or Kade Pilton,” said Bestwick, getting his point across regarding changes on the blue line. “He’ll be given every opportunity to play top minutes. He’s real good.
“Obviously, it’s changed a lot back there, from the goaltenders out.”
Up front, Mark McLellan is expected to be a leader and Bestwick and associate coach and GM Craig Didmon will need production from the Fitzgerald triplets — Gerry, Leo and Myles, who are heading to Bemidji State University next season (where they’ll join Jones, who committed to the school last season).
The Grizzlies coaching staff is also looking for improvement from the likes of Dante Hahn and David Walchuk and have brought in Storm Wahlrab from Laguna Niguel, Calif.
On the whole, most of the recruiting was done early, as opposed to last season when Bestwick was a late announcement in joining a club that needed some late adjustments.
“Coming off last season, this summer was enjoyable, for a whole lot of reasons. [One reason] is what our organization did, collectively, the previous fall and winter. It made it real pleasant,” admitted Bestwick when asked about his summer. “Yes, my handicap is hovering around 16 or 18,” he said with a chuckle when he answered the phone. “Oh, you’re calling about training camp.”
Camp is on the ice at the Juan de Fuca arena daily with sessions from 3:30-5 p.m. and 6:15-7:45 p.m.
An intra-squad game is set for Friday night.
On Saturday, the club hosts Alberni Valley at 7 p.m. before heading to Port Alberni for a rematch the next day at 2 p.m.
Bear Mountain Arena is currently occupied by the Victoria Shamrocks, who are in the final of the Western Lacrosse Association playoffs.
“We’re on hold, relative to relocating back [to Bear Mountain] until the lacrosse playoffs conclude, one way or the other,” said Bestwick. “We obviously hope they go all the way.”
The Grizzlies, who open the regular season at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack on Sept. 6, don’t play their first home game until Sept. 27.
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