Jacson Alexander will be among a handful of them as the Victoria Grizzlies set sail on a busy weekend that begins tonight in Trail before moving on to Penticton on Saturday and culminating in Surrey on Sunday.
The 16-year-old defenceman is looking forward to the challenge, the first of four such weekends for the 7-3-0-0 Grizzlies.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to go on the road with a lot of young guys. We went to Powell River to start the year, but that鈥檚 not really a long road trip so this will be fun and I鈥檓 looking forward to it,鈥� said Alexander, who along with Alex Newhook, Tanner Hopps and Lach Hadley all attend Belmont Secondary.
鈥淎ll the school guys, like myself and Alex and Tanner and Lach all get along really well because we鈥檙e always together. It鈥檚 great to get to know each other really well.鈥�
And they all know and respect the rules of the bus when it comes to rookies.
鈥淵eah, we kind of get pushed up to the front a little bit. Sometimes in smaller buses we have to share seats, which kind of sucks, but hopefully this is a bigger bus,鈥� Alexander said with a chuckle.
The rules on such a grinding weekend are the same for everyone, try and get as much rest as you can.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e trying to sleep as much as you can and you have to learn how to sleep anywhere, really,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou tend to get tired and by that Sunday game we鈥檙e going to have to try and find a way to do well with little sleep.鈥�
So far Alexander has managed a goal and an assist in seven games. The local product is returning from an upper body injury sustained in an open-ice collision that forced him out of the last three games.
鈥淚 have enjoyed everything. I had the one little injury 鈥� out for a few days, but I was happy to get back. It could鈥檝e been a lot worse. I鈥檓 happy to be back with the guys and playing games,鈥� he said.
Shawn O鈥橫alley and Cam Thompson are also expected to return from injuries, which is important on a trip such as this one.
鈥淛acson could have played last weekend, but we wanted to make sure we were looking after him,鈥� said general manager and head coach Craig Didmon. 鈥淭he fact that we have three games in three days means we have the ability to move guys in and out.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to have Thompson back and O鈥橫alley back, that adds a couple of experienced veterans back and to have Jacson back as well gives us a boost so I鈥檓 excited about the game [today].鈥�
It鈥檚 certainly not an easy trip as Trail is 7-3-1-0 and Penticton is undefeated in regulation time at 6-0-0-1. Surrey is struggling yet again at 3-7-1-1.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a battle of attrition, this trip, and I like it because it鈥檚 a challenge. Our veterans and our young guys want that challenge,鈥� said Didmon. 鈥淎t the same time it鈥檚 good for the group to get away and step up to that challenge. Adversity makes you stronger.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had a good schedule. We鈥檝e spent a lot of time on the Island this year and it鈥檚 good to see new rinks and get new inspiration. Let鈥檚 step up to the plate and come back a better team,鈥� added Didmon.
