There's no time like the present.
You have to make hay while the sun shines.
Pitter, patter, let's get at 'er.
Use any over-used clich脙漏 you like, but the message is still the same. The Victoria Grizzlies would love nothing more than to get off to a quick start this sa国际传媒 Hockey League season.
It begins this afternoon at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack as the Grizzlies face the Coquitlam Express at 4 p.m. and then follow up with a date Saturday at 11: 30 a.m. against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
"It's about confidence," said Grizzlies general manager and head coach Bill Bestwick. "We've played exhibition games and even though they don't mean anything and don't count in the standings, from a confidence perspective, to be able to feel good about what you're doing in the off-season and what you're doing as a team in a week or two, it has shown positive signs.
"We're bonding and doing all those things that good teams do early," added Bestwick, whose team won twice, tied once and lost another in pre-season play.
"You want to be at your best early in the season because you don't get those points back, or chances back, and we're going to put solid efforts in to be at our best this weekend."
Where there will be plenty of scouts in the stands for the debut of the Showcase event where all 16 teams will play two games each to start the regular-season schedule.
"This is reminiscent of the Mac's [major midget] tournament or the big tournaments you've played through minor hockey," said Bestwick. "It doesn't matter if it's nine in the morning or nine at night, there are eyes watching and there isn't one kid in this organization that doesn't aspire to play at a higher level when they graduate."
And they know what's on the line. It's time to make a statement with your play and carry that message right through the entire schedule.
"It's a rebuilding year, but I think we're going to do quite well," said returnee Chase Kaiser, 20, who had 17 goals and 17 assists in 52 games last season.
"We have this tournament and we'd like to be able to show people what we're capable of and hopefully it'll be an impact weekend."
The five-foot-nine, 170pounder is playing on a line with fellow returnee David Walchuk and newcomer Turner Lawson.
"I see a lot of changes here. The coaches have really taken control and I like that aspect of it," said Walchuk, who suffered through a recurring shoulder injury last year and played just 15 games.
"There's going to be a lot of exposure out there this weekend, so everyone will want to show what they have. The intensity will be up," said the 18-year-old, who has plenty of size at sixfoot-three and 200 pounds.
"I want to get noticed this year. It was a tough year last year, playing only 15 games."
And defensively, Nolan DeJong will play a big part on the back end.
"I want to be a leader, obviously a top-two defenceman on this team. I like that kind of pressure and I like that the coaching staff has given me that type of responsibility," said the wellspoken 17-year-old who has already committed to Cornell University.
"As a team, I want us to make the playoffs and I think we have everything it takes to make the playoffs.
A long run in the playoffs would be great, and hopefully an appearance at the RBC Cup would be nice."
Most would say that would be a stretch, considering the year the Grizzlies went through in 2011-12 (just a 21-38-1-0 record). But that team has been gutted.
"You just never know what's going to happen," said DeJong, who stands sixfoot-two and 180 pounds. "I think we'll be far more entertaining and we're going to be a way better product on and off the ice."
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