It has been a busy last seven days for Alex Newhook, but the Victoria Grizzlies captain wouldn鈥檛 have it any other way.
With the puck about to drop on the Grizzlies鈥� fourth game in the last seven days, Newhook has flown to Boston, toured the campus of Boston College, took in the Beanpot Tournament semifinal, watched the Patriots鈥� Super Bowl championship parade in person, and then flew back to Victoria where his Grizzlies will square off against the Cowichan Valley Capitals tonight at The Q Centre in an important sa国际传媒 Hockey League game for both teams.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a pretty awesome last few days, that鈥檚 for sure,鈥� said the Grizzlies 18-year-old centre, whose visit to Boston College on Monday and Tuesday was his official allowed visit to the NCAA school he will attend next fall.
鈥淭o see the team play in the Beanpot semi [in which Boston College defeated Harvard to advance to Monday鈥檚 final] was great, and then to see the Patriots鈥� parade was pretty wild so it was a great experience.鈥�
Newhook was accompanied on the trip by teammates Riley Hughes and Jeremie Bucheler who were on their official visit to Northeastern, also in the Boston area, where they鈥檙e expected to play next fall. Northeastern edged Boston University in the other Beanpot semi so Monday鈥檚 championship game will take on a little extra something in the Grizzlies鈥� locker-room.
鈥淥h, I鈥檒l be watching it with Hughesy and Buch, so that鈥檚 going to be a lot of fun, especially if BC wins,鈥� added Newhook.
But for now, it鈥檚 back to business with the Grizzlies who hit the BCHL stretch run with eight regular season games left and just a two-point lead over Powell River in the race for the Island Division title.
鈥淭his is a big game for both teams because we need every point we can get in the race for first and they鈥檙e playing for that fourth playoff spot so we need to come out with a lot of intensity and be ready to play.鈥�
Tonight鈥檚 game is also a possible playoff preview if the Grizzlies (31-16-0-3) finish first in the division and the Caps (15-31-4-1) earn that fourth spot.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 always in the back of your mind so that鈥檚 why I think it鈥檚 important to make a bit of a statement and have a real strong game,鈥� Newhook said.
As the regular season winds down, Newhook鈥檚 focus may also turn to the top of the BCHL scoring race where his 81 points are currently nine more than second place Ryan Brushett of Powell River.
鈥淵ou try not to worry about that,鈥� said Newhook, who is projected to go in the first round of this summer鈥檚 NHL draft in Vancouver.
鈥淚 just try to stay focused on helping the team win games, because that鈥檚 what鈥檚 most important right now. And when the team has success, that鈥檚 usually when the points come as well.鈥�
Following tonight鈥檚 game, the Grizzlies have Friday off before a pair of weekend games as the Wenatchee Wild come to The Q Centre on Saturday night and the Merritt Centennials visit Sunday afternoon.
