He is an offensive defenceman who wears No. 4 for a hockey team dressed in black and gold. But it isn’t Bobby Orr who Drew Hockley of the Victoria Grizzlies draws his blue line inspiration from, but another multiple Norris Trophy-winning NHL defenceman, Erik Karlsson.
“I liked how [Karlsson] was always great on both sides of the puck,” said Hockley.
Hockley has been just that at the B.C. Hockey League level in opening the season tied for the league lead in points with nine and tied for third in league goals with five after four games. While that pace might not be sustainable for a blue-liner, it has opened a lot of eyes, and this week earned Hockley an NCAA Div. 1 commitment to Quinnipiac University in Connecticut.
“My start to the season helped for sure in getting that,” said Hockley.
“Quinnipiac has a great reputation for hockey and was the NCAA Frozen Four national champion two years ago, so it’s a very appealing place to play.”
The 19-year-old Nova Scotian, from the town of Kentville, came coast-to-coast to pursue his hockey dreams: “The BCHL is the best league for moving players on to the NCAA and I love it here on this coast.”
Hockley had a goal and five points in 44 games last season as he concentrated on the defensive side of the puck as a six-foot-five rookie with a wide wingspan. Now he is also attacking the net, which was a feature of his game growing up playing rep hockey in Nova Scotia: “I always liked to play a 200-foot game and be up in the play.”
Geoff Grimwood, the Grizzlies assistant coach and director of player personnel, describes Hockley as one of the most improved players on the team.
“I love my [personal] start to the season. But I like being 4-0 better,” said Hockley.
The Grizzlies put their undefeated record on the line tonight at Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo against the Clippers (2-2-1) and Saturday night at the Port Alberni Multiplex against the Bulldogs (2-1-1).
“We have a great group with great chemistry and we all have the same goal of winning a championship,” said Hockley.
“The returnees have really bonded with the younger players and I am aiming to be a good veteran and leader on this team. I love that aspect of it this season and it comes naturally to me.”
Considering Hockley’s admiration for the play of Karlsson, who won silver with Sweden in both the 2009 world juniors and 2014 Sochi Olympics, perhaps it is only fitting he has been paired with Oscar Pantzare, who led the Swedish U-20 league in goals for a defenceman last season with 17 for Frolunda, a team that boasted seven NHL draft picks. The pairing of Hockley with Pantzare has provided the Grizzlies’ blue line with a potent dynamism in the early going of the season.
ICE CHIPS: The Grizzlies announced Thursday the signing of six-foot-one goaltender Dylan Adams, a native of Kelowna, who began the season in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League with the Battlefords North Stars. No. 1 netminder Oliver Auyeung-Ashton remains sidelined with an injury. … The Clippers picked up forward Alex Hebblethwaite from the Trail Smoke Eaters on Tuesday to boost their offence. And he did just that. The Mississauga, Ont., native who attended the Grizzlies training camp before being dealt to Trail prior to the start of the regular season, scored four goals in Nanaimo’s 9-4 win in Surrey on Wednesday.
