Matthew Wood of Nanaimo is only 16 but is already being hailed as the next big thing in hockey to come out of the Island.
鈥淯Conn landed one of the most highly rated recruits in program history, a source told The UConn Blog,鈥� wrote Daniel Connolly, when Wood committed to the NCAA Div. 1 University of sa国际传媒icut Huskies last week.
鈥淎nother source called Wood a 鈥榮pecial talent鈥� and believes the forward is one of the best prospects the Huskies have pulled out of British Columbia and could be one of their top 颅commitments ever.鈥�
The six-foot-four, 185-pound forward scored five goals and had eight assists for 13 points in 18 games for the Victoria 颅Grizzlies in the pandemic-abbreviated 2021 BCHL bubble season.
鈥淚t was a big jump up from [U-18] and I am glad I got to do it this year, as short as it was, and not have to wait until next 颅season,鈥� said Wood.
Wood, who will be entering Belmont Secondary in Grade 11 next month, will be eligible for the 2023 NHL draft. Since he won鈥檛 be joining UConn until the fall of that year, he will be drafted out of the Grizzlies, as was forward Alex Newhook 16th overall in the 2019 first round to the 颅Colorado Avalanche, before he joined Boston College that fall.
Wood sloughs off the speculation of where he will be slotted for the 2023 draft. It could be high.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 feel the pressure of that,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f people want to talk about that they can talk about it. I know people will be watching but I just go out and do what I do.鈥�
Asked to describe the style fans will see at The Q Centre the next two seasons, Wood said: 鈥淚 create offence, both scoring and setting up, but I don鈥檛 take defence for granted.鈥�
The Islander said the 颅decision to go with the 颅Huskies, who already have two former 颅Grizzlies in their lineup in Carter Berger and Jake Veilleux, as his choice of NCAA team was not made lightly.
鈥淚 liked the coach [Mike Cavanaugh] and everything just fit and fell into place,鈥� he said.
Having chosen so early, 颅people won鈥檛 constantly be 颅asking him about it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a relief to get it done and out of the way, and not have to worry about it, so I can just focus on playing in the BCHL and for the Grizzlies,鈥� he said.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies announced a trade in which defenceman Tanner Attew was sent to the Langley Rivermen in exchange for three-season BCHL veteran forward Kalen Szeto, who is committed to Yale of the Ivy League for 2022-23.
鈥淜alen is a skilled centre with experience in the league. I think with his skill set and the way he makes smart plays, he will fit in well with the players on our roster,鈥� said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon.
鈥淭his is Kalen鈥檚 last season and we have a team that wants to make some noise, so I know he is looking forward to the opportunity before he heads to college. But it was tough to see Tanner go. He will be in a situation where he will play a bigger role with Langley.鈥�
LOOSE PUCKS: The Grizzlies will begin the preseason on Sept. 19 at The Q Centre against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The six-game exhibition campaign runs through Oct. 2 against the Nanaimo 颅Clippers at The Q 颅Centre.
