As any sa国际传媒 Hockey League coach will tell you, the month of January can be a critical one as you point your hockey team toward the post-season.
The Victoria Grizzlies enjoyed a strong January in 2017, winning eight games to go with four losses.
This season they are undefeated in four games so far this month and, with a win (or tie) tonight at The Q Centre against the visiting Alberni Valley Bulldogs, can stretch an undefeated streak dating back to Dec. 9 to 10 games.
Victoria (22-14-3-2) could move into sole possession of first place in the Island Division. The Bulldogs sit at 11-22-3-4, 10 points up on last-place Cowichan Valley.
鈥淲e鈥檙e down to the last two months here, so teams are going to be jockeying for position for playoffs. And obviously, you want to have good momentum heading into the final stretch in February,鈥� Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon said.
鈥淵ou spend the first half developing and learning, and now it鈥檚 a process. Our division is so tight, too, so it鈥檚 an important month for sure. I know it is for us,鈥� he stressed. 鈥淲e responded well last year and that kept us going.鈥�
What鈥檚 also important is the fact that teams are now down to their final rosters as the trade deadline passed on Wednesday. The Grizzlies stood pat.
鈥淭his is your team now. With us it didn鈥檛 change much, but you want positive results,鈥� said Didmon, who has looked ahead in the schedule. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got two three-game road trips, one this month and one next month. And that will be important: To get out-of-division points, which would help us in the end.鈥�
Following tonight鈥檚 and Sunday afternoon鈥檚 home game against Powell River, the Grizzlies will have 15 contests remaining, with just six at home.
They have not seen Alberni Valley in a month and are 5-1 in six previous matchups against the Bulldogs, who want to grab that last playoff spot in the Island Division.
The Bulldogs did make some moves at the deadline, sending defenceman Connor Welsh to Trail for future considerations. They also transferred Ryan Steele鈥檚 CJHL playing rights to West Kelowna for the rights to Spencer Hora and future considerations.
Coach Matt Hughes also announced that Julian Benner and Michael Sacco will return to the lineup from injury. However, the Bulldogs have lost Liam Lytton and Ezra Paddock to injuries for the remainder of the season.
Meanwhile, Grizzlies defenceman Drayson Pears is still a few weeks away from returning from his shoulder injury.
AROUND THE LEAGUE: Longtime Vernon Vipers owner Duncan Wray, well-known in these parts, died Wednesday night at age 68. Under his ownership, the Vipers won four national Junior A championships and six BCHL titles. He had served on the league鈥檚 board of governors since 1992 and was its chairman.
