Victoria Grizzlies forward Alex Newhook joined heady company Wednesday in being named the B.C. Hockey League rookie of the year.
The last Victoria player to capture the Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy now has an Olympic gold medal and is captain of the NHL’s Dallas Stars. Jamie Benn was named the BCHL’s top first-year player in 2007 and now the just-turned 17-year-old Newhook can add the award to his already impressive resumé.
“That’s pretty cool to hear your name alongside someone like that who has gone on to the NHL and obviously has had a great career,” said Newhook, who’s in Grade 11 at Belmont Secondary and is committed to Boston College of the NCAA for the fall of 2019.
Despite missing the last three weeks with a hand injury, Newhook, who hails from St. John’s, N.L., finished with 22 goals and 44 assists for 66 points in 45 games. He was eighth in league scoring, eight points back of Brett Hull Trophy winner and league MVP Jasper Weatherby, despite playing 13 fewer games than the Wenatchee Wild sniper.
“I thought once I got adjusted to the league that I could have an impact so I’m glad I was able to do that and help the team,” added Newhook.
“And when you play with guys like [Jamie] Rome and [Ethan] Nother, who are both exceptional players, it obviously makes my life a lot easier.”
Grizzlies GM/head coach Craig Didmon said his star rookie will be ready to go for Game 1 of the playoffs against Alberni Valley on Friday night and expects the centre to pick up where he left off. Newhook finished 14 points ahead of the next highest scoring rookie, Levi Glassman of the Trail Smoke Eaters.
“Alex is a special player,” Didmon said. “He works extremely hard and this kind of regular season was one of his goals so it’s nice to see him rewarded.”
It’s the second straight year that the Grizzlies have had a BCHL year-end award winner. Jake Stevens, currently in the NCAA with St. Lawrence University, was named the league’s top defenceman last season.
Other BCHL award winners this season include Cooper Zech of Wenatchee as the top defenceman, Ty Taylor of the Vernon Vipers the top goaltender, Ben Poisson of the Prince George Spruce Kings the most sportsmanlike player and Bliss Littler of Wenatchee the coach of the year.