听
Following in the footsteps of older brother Jake Stirling, Brett Stirling is settling into his role as a rookie defenceman with the Victoria Grizzlies.
The six-foot-two, 205-pound blue-liner took to the ice in the team鈥檚 final pre-season game, a 7-2 win against the visiting Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Saturday night at Westhills Arena. Brayden Gelsinger, Nick Guiney, Kevin Massy, Drayson Pears, Joey Visconti, P.J. Conlon and Mitchell Barker scored for the Grizzlies.
The two teams had played to a 1-1 double-overtime draw the previous night in Port Alberni.
As for Brett Stirling, the Aurora, Ont., native is looking forward to the start of the regular season on Friday in Duncan against the Cowichan Valley Capitals after two championship seasons with Salisbury prep school in New England. 鈥淲e鈥檙e starting to get structure in place and things are starting to click,鈥� he said of the Grizzlies. 鈥淚鈥檓 just trying to do the best I can and hopefully get something done with a scholarship down in the States.鈥�
Brett played a season with Jake at St. Andrew鈥檚 College in Ontario in 2012-13 before the younger sibling headed south and Jake headed west for half a season with Victoria. 鈥淗e was a big influence on me coming here. I did my own research, but I definitely talked to him and got his opinion. He had only great things to say,鈥� Brett sad of Jake, who is now out of hockey and enrolled at the University of Guelph.
Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon is glad Brett took the same route.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a big kid and he鈥檚 mobile. We haven鈥檛 seen anything that he doesn鈥檛 do well,鈥� Didmon said of Brett. 鈥淭he big thing for him and us is to keep him confident and have him realize that he can be an impact defenceman.
鈥淗e can be that type of player now. He鈥檚 getting some power-play time, he鈥檚 killing some penalties, so he鈥檚 a big player for us,鈥� Didmon added of Stirling, who turns 19 in December.
The intention was for Stirling to team up on defence with veteran Cody Van Lierop, who is temporarily out of the lineup due to an injury sustained Friday.
Stirling is also a physical presence, which should go a long way to grabbing the attention of NCAA scouts. 鈥淢y physicality is a big part of my game and I try to finish checks on everyone when I can. Just play hard in general,鈥� he said.
