The Victoria Grizzlies uncanny connection to the Montreal Canadiens continues with Tom Molson, son of Habs co-owner and president and CEO Geoff Molson, coming out to the Island to play for the B.C. Hockey League club next season.
“Hockey was obviously a big part of my growing up and no one loves the Habs more, except for my dad,” said the 19-year-old forward Tom Molson.
He follows Jack Gorton, son of Canadiens president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton, who was a forward with the Grizzlies for two seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and now plays for Boston University in the NCAA, and New York Rangers draft-pick Riley Hughes, son of Canadiens GM Kent Hughes, who played for the Grizzlies in 2018-19 and is now in the ECHL.
“And, of course, I see a lot of Alex Newhook watching him play with the Habs,” said Tom Molson, referring to the former Grizzlies star forward and captain.
Tom Molson is committed to play NCAA Div. 1 for Yale and led Deerfield Academy of Massachusetts last season with 15 goals and 28 assists for 43 points in 26 games.
When you are five-foot-nine and 155 pounds in hockey, you rely on our wits and wiles: “I am a small but crafty, smart and skilled player looking to get better.”
That Molson chose an Ivy League school — Yale is not easy to get into — in which to play his NCAA hockey, says a lot about his priorities.
“My parents believed in a balance between academics and athletics and those are important values to me,” said Molson, who was also a star in the classroom at Deerfield Academy.
“It’s about continuous growth in all aspects of life.”
Molson said he is aware of some parts of the Grizzlies’ draft history, including NHL first-rounders Newhook in 2019 (Colorado) and Matthew Wood in 2023 (Nashville). But he was surprised to hear about the Grizzlies alumni NHLers of the more distant past such as Jamie and Jordie Benn, Tyler Bozak, Greg Zanon and Matt Pettinger.
“I knew about the recent guys but not about the others,” said Molson.
“I do know, talking to other players, that [current Grizzlies GM and head coach] Rylan Ferster is a great coach to play for.”
Molson is the third off-season addition announced by the Grizzlies, including recently-signed six-foot-three forward Nate Taylor, who had seven goals and 11 points last season as a BCHL rookie with the Merritt Centennials.
The Grizzlies earlier announced that American Stone Rolston has been acquired in a trade from the Chilliwack Chiefs. The six-foot-three forward is the son of Brian Rolston, who played 1,256 games in the NHL, won a Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils and represented the U.S. in three Olympics, winning silver at Salt Lake City in 2002.
The Grizzlies open the BCHL regular season Sept. 20-21 with back-to-back games in Powell River against the Kings. The Grizzlies home opener is Sept. 27 at The Q Centre against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
