It鈥檚 nice to feel wanted and T.J. Friedmann鈥檚 appreciation level has certainly increased since joining the Victoria Grizzlies.
The St. Louis native is the latest addition to the sa国际传媒 Hockey League鈥檚 roster, joining the team that initially began recruiting him out of the Victory Honda U-18 hockey program in Detroit last year.
Instead, the 18-year-old decided to stay closer to home, joining the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, who made the forward a second-round pick in their draft.
After seeing little playing time, fate dealt Friedmann a different hand and he wound up where Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon wanted him all along.
鈥淗e came out for a skate last April and, at that moment, we offered him a [playing] card. He was drafted by Green Bay, which is close to his home town and a sought after program. He went there for his first option, but he quickly realized that for development, he鈥檇 get a good opportunity with us. So we鈥檙e glad to have him here,鈥� said Didmon, who traded Sage Englund to Carleton Place in Ontario to make room.
鈥淗e gives us offensive depth and he鈥檚 a big kid, too. He鈥檚 another bigger forward who can score goals and create plays. We think he gives us four lines which can all score.鈥�
So Friedmann joins former Victory Honda teammate and linemate Justin Michaelian on a forward unit, along with Marty Westhaver and will see action on the Grizzlies鈥� road trip, which begins in Chilliwack tonight and continues to Salmon Arm and Trail over three days.
鈥淭hey had a good season together last year on the top line and had good chemistry. I鈥檓 sure Justin had a bit to do with him getting here,鈥� Didmon said of Friedmann rejoining Michaelian.
Friedmann had 20 goals and 13 assists in 32 games with Victory Honda last season, while Michaelian totalled 11 goals and 15 assists in 32 outings.
鈥淚 was drafted high so I wanted to give that a chance. It didn鈥檛 really work out so I hit the re-set button. Coach Didmon was still interested in me so it ended up working out well,鈥� said Friedmann, who stands six-foot-three and weighs 175 pounds.
鈥淚鈥檝e got a good spot here. It鈥檚 a great group of guys, a great team and I鈥檓 excited about getting in here and joining that. There鈥檚 a lot of chemistry with Justin. I spent a whole year with him, it worked out really well for us, so it should be an exciting rest of the year.鈥�
But Friedmann isn鈥檛 the only newcomer who will be experiencing his first playing time with the Grizzlies this weekend. Backup goalie Tony Rehm, recently acquired from Brooks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, is expected to make his first start in Salmon Arm after watching from the bench in two home games last weekend.
鈥淗e had a travel week last week and this week he鈥檚 looked good 鈥� really big in his net,鈥� said Didmon. 鈥淗e鈥檚 moving well and he knows our defencemen now, so he鈥檚 ready to go.鈥�
This is the first lengthy road trip off the Island for the Grizzlies, who are 9-2-2-3.
