The Victoria Grizzlies鈥� forward 鈥� who will be in the lineup tonight when the team returns to action in Duncan against the Cowichan Valley Capitals 鈥� was named this week to the Team West roster for the annual Canadian Junior Hockey League Prospects Game, slated for Jan. 25 in Cornwall, Ont.
Each player chosen to participate is selected through the efforts of NHL Central Scouting and is currently among the top 40 CJHL prospects heading into the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago.
NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr looked after putting together the East and West rosters.
鈥淭he CJHL Prospects Game is a tremendous opportunity for these players to showcase their ability and represent their teams, leagues and communities on a national stage,鈥� said Marr.
Rome, of Calgary, has 14 goals and 10 assists in 36 games in his rookie season with the Grizzlies. He is one of 10 players from the sa国际传媒 Hockey League on Team West, which will be coached by Rick Swan of the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Former NHLers Jesse Winchester and Chad Kilger are guest coaches with Team West and East, respectively. Both are former members of the Cornwall Colts of the CJHL.
Rome has eight goals and 11 points in his last eight games.
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited about going,鈥� said Rome, who was notified about making the team while playing golf in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Christmas break. 鈥淚鈥檝e been trying to get there all year. It was a goal of mine to play in this.
鈥淚鈥檝e talked to a couple of [NCAA] schools and I guess I鈥檝e caught the eye of a few NHL scouts to be able to go to that Prospects Game now, so it鈥檚 working out well.鈥�
Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon notified Rome about the nod.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 well deserved. Here鈥檚 a player who keeps getting better through the course of the year. He came in as a rookie and had to learn the junior game,鈥� he said of Rome. 鈥淚 see him getting more confidence and as that happens he puts the puck in the net a little more.
鈥淗e鈥檚 got the attention now of the NHL and, obviously, the NCAA so good on him and I think it鈥檚 well deserved.鈥�
While Rome will leave the team later in the month for the trip out east, the Grizzlies do get No. 1 goaltender Matthew Galajda back tonight after his stint with sa国际传媒 West at the World Junior A Hockey Challenge before the Christmas season.
鈥淚t was a great experience. I learned a lot being there and being exposed to all the top players. I learned a lot and can bring some stuff back here for the rest of the season,鈥� he said of being back.
The Grizzlies will, however, be without captain Cody Van Lierop for one more game, and Keyvan Mokhtari and Nico Somerville are out with injuries.
Victoria will also venture to Nanaimo on Wednesday before a trip through Langley, Wenatchee and Surrey the next weekend before they return home Jan. 12, two days after the trade deadline.
In another Island Division game, Nanaimo heads to Powell River for a 5:30 p.m. start tonight. Alberni Valley remains off until Wednesday when the Bulldogs play host to Cowichan.
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