It鈥檚 with no surprise that the Victoria Grizzlies turned to veteran sa国际传媒 Hockey League players to form the leadership group for the 2015-16 season, which begins Friday night in Duncan against the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
P.J. Conlon, in his second year with the club, will wear the 鈥楥鈥� as captain, taking over from the departed Shawn McBride. Cole Pickup, Brayden Gelsinger (acquired in the off-season), Kevin Massy and Cody Van Lierop, who is currently injured, will carry the associate captains鈥� roles. The four associates will switch off as only three 鈥楢鈥檚 can appear on the ice at one time.
鈥淎ll guys who have played in the league before,鈥� said Conlon. 鈥淎ll of us have a good understanding of what it takes to win in this league and we鈥檙e going to try and lead by example on the ice and off the ice and set a good example for the first-year players.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited. Obviously, it鈥檚 a huge role with all the leaders that have come before me and the strong history of this organization, so it鈥檚 a huge honour and I don鈥檛 take that lightly,鈥� added the Ontario native, who had six goals and 13 assists in 57 games last season.
The six-foot, 180-pounder added one assist in six playoff games.
鈥淎ll three 20-year-olds [Conlon, Massy and Gelsinger] have letters and Van Lierop and Pickup as well,鈥� said head coach and general manager Craig Didmon. 鈥淰an Lierop was a prep school captain and Cole, this will be his fourth season with his affiliated player time, so he鈥檚 ready to lead that way.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got to make sure the young squad is focused and ready to go every game and that鈥檚 why we named P.J. the captain. He鈥檚 a leader and he鈥檚 very good at getting the group on task and ready to go,鈥� said Didmon. 鈥淭hat will be an area we need to focus on every night.鈥�
As for Van Lierop, Didmon expects him back soon.
鈥淗opefully, he鈥檚 out just this weekend,鈥� Didmon said of the injured defenceman. 鈥淚t is an injury we have to be careful with. He鈥檚 a big part of the defence. It鈥檚 not great that he鈥檚 out, but it gives some of those young guys a chance to play in these first games.鈥�
