It seems that 16-year-old rookie Alex Newhook鈥檚 goal of putting up 50 points in his first sa国际传媒 Hockey League season may be just a tad underestimated.
Already at 10 points (one goal and nine assists) in six games, the Newfoundland native is coming off league player of the week honours as he collected three assists in each of the two victories at last weekend鈥檚 BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack.
He and the rest of the Victoria Grizzlies (4-2) finally get to play their first home game of the season tonight when the Vernon Vipers (4-1-0-1) come calling at 7 at The Q Centre.
鈥淚鈥檓 not too worried about it [the statistics]. I鈥檓 just going to keep playing the way I am and, hopefully, it keeps going and I can help the team in any way I can. I think the points will just come with that,鈥� he said.
At this pace he鈥檒l easily leap the mark he set out to before the season started.
鈥淲e鈥檒l see,鈥� he said with a wry smile.
Obviously, the highly touted youngster, who has already committed to Boston College of the NCAA for the fall of 2019, isn鈥檛 about to make any bold predictions, but he鈥檚 well on his way to a solid campaign and has adjusted well to competing against older opposition.
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 found it too bad,鈥� he said of that adjustment. 鈥淗onestly, it鈥檚 a lot faster than last year or anywhere else I鈥檝e played. I think I鈥檝e settled into it now and it鈥檚 just a matter of playing my game and sticking to that, and not getting away from it. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 important.鈥�
Projected to be a first-round NHL draft pick in two years, Newhook is focused on the now, which includes a much anticipated home-opener.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e excited more than anything,鈥� he said. 鈥淥bviously, there鈥檚 a little bit of nerves because we鈥檙e playing at home for the first time, but we鈥檙e ready for it. I think the guys are ready for a weekend at home after being away the first fwe weekends. We鈥檙e ready for war with Vernon and hopefully we鈥檒l win that one.鈥�
That鈥檚 where the veterans of the club will come in, helping the likes of Newhook, Jacson Alexander and the rest of the rookies settle in for what they hope will be a big crowd.
鈥淚 think everyone is super excited for it. I know I am,鈥� said Grizzlies captain Lucas Clark. 鈥淎ll the boys keep talking about it, but we just have to keep our minds right and, hopefully, it goes well.
鈥淏y the sounds of it, we should have a pretty good crowd, that鈥檚 another big reason to make it a good game to make sure they keep coming back and supporting.鈥�
The first few shifts will be telling as the team settles into its comfy confines.
鈥淥bviously, we have guys like Newhook and Alexander, who haven鈥檛 been through it yet, but they鈥檝e adjusted very well so far,鈥� said Clark, who is off to a good start with two goals and four assists in five games. He is also on a four-game point streak after being blanked in his first outing after missing Game 1 with an injury.
鈥淧laying in your home barn is a bit different, right. You鈥檝e got the crowd on your side and you鈥檝e got the energy, so if you don鈥檛 play with energy you鈥檙e not going to get energy from the crowd. Your play will determine how the crowd is going to react and how team success is going to happen.鈥�
The Grizzlies are also home on Saturday night when the Langley Rivermen pay a visit to The Q Centre.
