VANCOUVER 鈥� The population of Grizzlies in the city of Denver just doubled.
The Colorado Avalanche selected Victoria Grizzlies captain Alex Newhook with the 16th overall selection in the NHL draft on Friday night at Rogers Arena. And with former Grizzlies defenceman Tyson Barrie already patrolling the Avalanche blue line, Colorado went to the Victoria well once again.
And Newhook, the sa国际传媒 Hockey League鈥檚 leading scorer and MVP this past season, couldn鈥檛 be happier about heading to the Mile High city.
鈥淭his is amazing,鈥� said the 18-year-old Newhook, who had mom Paula, dad Shawn and sister Abby sitting next to him along with about 40 family and friends from Newfound in the surrounding stands.
鈥淚 knew Colorado was really interested when they called me for a second interview [after the NHL combine], and right away I felt comfortable with them. And obviously, it鈥檚 a great organization that has won a Stanley Cup 鈥� and they have another Maritimer in Nathan MacKinnon 鈥� so I鈥檓 super excited about joining the Avalanche family.鈥�
And about possibly suiting up beside another former Grizzlie?
鈥淵ah, I hear he鈥檚 a pretty good player,鈥� Newhook said with a laugh.
鈥淏ut seriously, Tyson had another great season and it would be awesome to play with him.鈥�
Newhook, who hails from St. John鈥檚, N.L., was ranked 13th by NHL Central Scouting going into the draft, and when the host Vancouver Canucks went on the clock at No. 10, things got a little more noisy in Rogers Arena.
Eleven of Newhook鈥檚 Grizzlies teammates, including Carter Berger, Marty Westhaver, Nico Somerville and Ryan Nolan, were sitting in the next section over and started chanting: 鈥淲e want Newhook, We want Newhook!鈥�
But it wasn鈥檛 to be as the hometown Canucks selected Russian star Vasily Podkolzin.
The chanting continued until Avalanche GM Joe Sakic stepped up to the mic.
鈥淚t was great to see the boys from Victoria out,鈥� Newhook said. 鈥淭he whole Grizzlies organization has been so supportive over my two years in Victoria and it鈥檚 a time that I鈥檒l never forget.鈥�
Neither will the Grizzlies organization.
鈥淚t was surreal to hear Sakic call his name,鈥� said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon, also in attendance.
鈥淎nd he will join Tyson. It鈥檚 a very young, skilled team the Avalanche have, so Alex will fit in very well there when he鈥檚 ready.
鈥淎nd this is a great moment for the organization. It鈥檚 a reward for all the volunteers and everyone involved with the club. We couldn鈥檛 be happier for Alex. He鈥檚 earned the opportunity in front of him.鈥�
Newhook will attend the Avalanche prospects camp in the next few weeks and then continue to prepare for his NCAA career, which will begin in September when he heads to Boston College.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long journey, an amazing journey and a worthwhile one,鈥� said Newhook, who graduates from Belmont Secondary in Langford next week and then expects to study business administration at Boston College.
鈥淭he draft is one step along the path, and now I鈥檓 looking forward to getting to [Boston College] and developing my game more so I鈥檓 ready for the NHL when I decide to make the jump to the next level.鈥�
A few of his former teammates hope to take that step, too. Starting today for some of them.
Rounds two through seven go today at Rogers Arena. Outgoing Grizzlies Alex Campbell (ranked 43rd), Jeremie Bucheler (114th) and Carter Berger (157th) could hear their names called, as could new Grizzlies defenceman Jayden Struble, who comes to Victoria ranked 48th by Central Scouting.
鈥淗aving these guys all ranked just goes to show what a special group we had this year,鈥� Newhook said. 鈥淵ou look at all the Junior A programs across sa国际传媒 and it鈥檚 not every often you see four guys get drafted by NHL teams.
鈥淚 hope they get their names called and continue their journey, because they鈥檙e all great guys and great teammates.鈥�
