Victoria Grizzlies head coach and GM Rylan Ferster has two simple words of advice for his players as they face the pressure of performing in front of NHL and NCAA scouts today and Thursday: “Just play.”
Do what you normally do is good advice at any time and it doesn’t change when extra eyes are on you.
The annual B.C. Hockey League Showcase, which began Sunday and runs through Thursday, is the biggest single-event audition in Junior A in North America and draws a large number of pro and college scouts in a one-stop shopping carnival of junior hockey.
“It’s a crazy atmosphere but a great opportunity for the players to play in front of all these scouts,” said Ferster.
Last year’s Showcase took place at the Kraken practice facility in Seattle and this year’s is taking place in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, and is co-hosted by the BCHL along with the Vancouver Canucks, complete with mascot Fin and Canucks alumni such as Kirk McLean on hand, along with Canucks in-game promotions and Canucks public-address announcer Al Murdoch on the microphone.
The Cowichan Valley Capitals (4-5) swept through the Showcase in style at Abbotsford, beating the Vernon Vipers (2-6-1) on Sunday 4-0 and the Trail Smoke Eaters (5-3-2) on Monday 4-2. The Alberni Valley Bulldogs split in Abbotsford, losing 5-1 to the Cranbrook Bucks (7-1) on Sunday, before rebounding to edge the Prince George Spruce Kings (3-6-1) in overtime 3-2 on Monday.
Cranbrook defeated the Nanaimo Clippers 5-2 on Tuesday in Abbotsford. The Clippers (3-4-1) close out in the Showcase today against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (5-2-1) at 1 p.m. in Chilliwack. All Showcase games count in the standings.
The Grizzlies (5-1-1) play the Penticton Vees today at 4 p.m. and Salmon Arm on Thursday at 10 a.m., both in Chilliwack. The Vees (6-1 heading into Tuesday night’s game in the Showcase against the Okotoks Oilers) have been the gold standard in the BCHL for many years and already this season have a league second-leading 19 players committed to NCAA Div. 1 scholarships behind only the Brooks Bandits’ 21.
With the Grizzlies off to a good start, today’s Showcase match-up in the Fraser Valley between Victoria and Penticton stands out as an early-season marquee match-up.
Ferster played down that angle, however, saying: “Every game is important.”
The Grizzlies, following the Showcase, return to meet the Powell River Kings (1-4-2) on Saturday night at The Q Centre in Colwood.
