Players from eliminated national sides are beginning to make their way back to their club teams from the 2024 world junior championship tournament taking place in Gothenburg, Sweden.
It is with acute disappointment for former BCHL Victoria Grizzlies star and current UConn Huskies forward Matthew Wood of Nanaimo, part of sa国际传媒’s searing upset quarter-final loss to a Czechian team that featured Victoria Royals WHL forward Robin Sapousek. Returning to the Royals will also be forward Casper Evensen Haugen from the relegated Norwegian team.
Defenceman Richard Baran is en route back to the Grizzlies following Slovakia’s encouraging run in taking Finland to the brink in a quarter-final loss. Although the NCAA Arizona State Sun Devils-committed Baran was a healthy scratch and didn’t get into a game for Slovakia, Grizzlies head coach Rylan Ferster believes just being chosen to be in that heady company will help his rising blue-liner.
“Anytime you are picked to represent your country at that level is beneficial and an honour,” said Ferster.
“I have been called by Hockey sa国际传媒 on three separate occasions [at various levels] and would tape sticks if I was asked to.”
Baran won’t return in time for this weekend’s BCHL games at The Q Centre, tonight against the Powell River Kings (7-19-3) and Saturday night against the Chilliwack Chiefs (16-11-1), but will play next weekend in a key home-and-away set against the Nanaimo Clippers (17-10-2).
Another Grizzlies’ international player, NCAA Boston College-committed forward Tobias Pitka, is expected in the lineup this weekend after representing Slovakia at the World Junior A Challenge tournament.
The Slovakian reinforcements couldn’t come at a better time.
“These next four games are meaningful for us, especially with three of them at home,” said Ferster.
Ferster saw his 17-11-1 club slide before the Christmas break by losing three of four games. That made the Grizzlies’ lone game so far since the break, a 2-0 victory over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs last weekend, all the more critical.
“That was a much-needed first-game back result for us,” said Ferster.
He hopes to see that form continue.
“We had a good week of practice,” he said.
