Hundreds of sets of eyes will be upon them and that鈥檚 just counting the National Hockey League and NCAA scouts in attendance this weekend.
The Victoria Grizzlies head to the sa国际传媒 Hockey League Showcase, the biggest weekend of the year for the young recruits, all looking for scholarships.
The time to shine is now.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity for a ton of exposure,鈥� said Grizzlies head coach and general manager Craig Didmon. 鈥淎 lot gets put into one weekend and they need their best performance and as a hockey team, we need to be our best.
鈥淚t鈥檚 sort of like all the eggs are in one basket. All the teams are there and it鈥檚 your time to shine. You never get a second chance to make a first impression and that鈥檚 what鈥檚 going to happen 鈥� a lot of players are going to make their first impression.鈥�
The 4-1 Grizzlies will tackle the Langley Rivermen today at 4 p.m. and follow that up with a date against the Trail Smoke Eaters on Sunday at 10 a.m. in a short turnaround in Chilliwack.
鈥淲e have to come out prepared and have to be focused. You have to make plays to help you win hockey games,鈥� said Didmon. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what鈥檚 going to get them noticed. You鈥檙e not going to make plays to earn a scholarship, you鈥檙e going to make plays to win a hockey game and that鈥檚 what will help them.
鈥淭hey have to focus on getting the two points each night. They are all very skilled and I certainly expect them to rise to the occasion.鈥�
Victoria will likely be without defenceman Brett Stirling who came away with an ankle injury last weekend in the team鈥檚 only loss to the Cowichan Valley Capitals that ended a streak of four wins. He also missed last year鈥檚 Showcase. Nick Guiney remains out with his shoulder injury.
Schools have consistently asked about Didmon鈥檚 roster and that interest will increase immensely in Chilliwack.
鈥淲e鈥檝e put ourselves in the drivers鈥� seat and now we have to continue,鈥� Didmon said of the team鈥檚 early showing. 鈥淗aving success this weekend should put players over the top and I鈥檓 optimistic we will land a few [scholarships] through the weekend coming up.鈥�
As for the other Island teams, Alberni Valley faced Chilliwack late Friday night and play Coquitlam today at 3 p.m.; Nanaimo lost 6-3 to Vernon on Friday afternoon and meets Salmon Arm today at 10 a.m.; Cowichan Valley edged Surrey 3-2 on Thursday and then beat Merritt 4-2 on Friday afternoon; and Powell River downed Wenatchee 5-4 in overtime on Friday and faces off against Trail today at 1 p.m.
