Victoria Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon will have to whittle that scenario down to two as the sa国际传媒 Hockey League club nears its complete roster in time for the season opener, Sept. 8 in Powell River.
Zack Rose, a recruit out of Lake Forest Academy in Illinois 鈥� which has produced former Grizzlies in Cody Van Lierop, Jake Stevens and goalie Sean Cleary 鈥� is said to have the inside track on the No. 1 spot. Jonah Capriotti of Salisbury Prep School and local product Shawn Parkinson are entrenched in the three-way battle to protect the net.
Current Grizzlies defenceman Dayne Finnson and recent grad Brett Stirling were both recruited out of Salisbury in sa国际传媒icut, so Didmon continues to go to the well for recruits.
The goaltending choices will obviously be critical after the Grizzlies rode NCAA-bound Matthew Galajda through a strong 2016-17 campaign.
鈥淭he way I see it is the starting position is open and that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 here for, to try and take it over,鈥� said Rose, of Paradise, NL. 鈥淚鈥檓 competing with two other good goalies, trying to take the spot. We鈥檙e great friends off the ice, but as soon as we get on, it鈥檚 all business.鈥�
It鈥檚 obviously a step up for Rose, venturing northwest out of Lake Forest Academy near Chicago. So far he鈥檚 played a half a game against the Cowichan Valley Capitals, keeping a clean sheet in a 3-1 win. He鈥檒l have more work this week as the Grizzlies head to Nanaimo tonight to take on the Clippers. They also visit Port Alberni on Friday and are back home on Saturday against Nanaimo and Sunday afternoon against the Bulldogs in Sooke.
鈥淥bviously, there鈥檚 always a bit of pressure because it is a jump up,鈥� said Rose, who recorded goals-against averages of 1.84, 2.08 and 1.78, respectively, the three years in Chicago with consistent save percentages of .911, .914 and .910. 鈥淲hen you get to the next level, there is always a bit of pressure, but personally I don鈥檛 feel it. You just have to relax and play your game and do what you鈥檙e here to do.
鈥淪ure, it鈥檚 faster and stronger. Shots are definitely harder. It鈥檚 a jump, like I said, but I鈥檓 ready to make it. I think I can be that No. 1 guy.鈥�
Capriotti, like Rose and Parkinson, is also 18 and recognizes the leap in playing level.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big step coming to the BCHL. Looking at the talent around, it鈥檚 a lot different from playing Prep and even junior back in Ontario,鈥� offered the Hamilton native. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot more skilled and physical, but that challenge is what you look forward to every day.
鈥淵ou want to get better every day and having these guys here, in Parkinson and Rose, they push you to do better. Having good talent is great to have around because you always want to challenge yourself to get better. The exposure and coaching has been great so far. I鈥檝e loved it here.鈥�
Capriotti is slated to play the entire preseason game tonight in Nanaimo with Parkinson as backup.
Capriotti鈥檚 introduction to the league was a quick one, facing a breakaway for his first shot against Cowichan Valley. It was the only goal he let in.
鈥淭hat gets you on your toes right away,鈥� he added.
Parkinson is also coming off a 42-save performance in a 6-2 exhibition win over Powell River. The six-foot-four, 190-pounder is well known to Grizzlies fans, having affiliated with the club last season while playing with the Westshore Wolves.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it gives me either, or,鈥� he said of any advantage or disadvantage to being the lone local. 鈥淚鈥檓 just letting my skill prove itself.
鈥淚鈥檓 confident I can be the No. 1, that鈥檚 how I feel right now. I鈥檓 comfortable and I feel like I deserve a spot. It will be coach Didmon鈥檚 decision.鈥�
A tough one at that, admitted the bench boss.
鈥淩ight now I feel like all three of them can compete at this level. It鈥檚 just a matter of which two we鈥檙e going to take,鈥� said Didmon, whose club is 2-1 so far the preseason.
鈥淥bviously, Rose has been solid from the start. We came in with the assumption that he was going to have the No. 1 spot and he has held onto that well.
鈥淚鈥檝e been impressed with Shawn. He has shown to have improved his game sense a little bit and he has caught up to the speed of junior A.
鈥淐apriotti is real quick and he鈥檚 stopping pucks. I don鈥檛 know him as well but he has shown me that he he鈥檚 a quality goaltender, so these are the good problems to have.鈥�
