De-committing from colleges is becoming more of a regular occurrence as players change their minds as to where they want to continue their hockey careers.
D.J. Jones has followed fellow Victoria Grizzlies defenceman Nolan DeJong鈥檚 footsteps in those regards, opting out of a previous commitment to West Point Military Academy. DeJong was originally going to Cornell but has pledged his future to the University of Michigan.
鈥淚 was real excited about going to West Point and to be a part of their hockey program and go through the school and the education. But I started having second thoughts about the military aspect, after you complete your school,鈥� the 20-year-old native of Plymouth, Michigan, said after practice as the Grizzlies prepare to host the Merritt Centennials tonight at Bear Mountain Arena. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not really a four-year commitment, it鈥檚 more of a nine-to-12-year commitment.鈥�
It鈥檚 not that Jones didn鈥檛 want to get up at 5 a.m. and drop and give superiors 20 pushups on demand.
鈥淧eople who know me know I鈥檓 a disciplined individual and I would have done well there,鈥� Jones said with a chuckle. 鈥淚鈥檓 thinking of playing college [hockey] and maybe playing in Europe somewhere afterward.
鈥淚f you go military, they make your choices for you. The education at West Point would have opened up a lot of doors, but I鈥檓 happy with my decision.鈥�
Just as the Grizzlies have been delighted with Jones鈥檚 performance, having come to Victoria in a three-way deal through Penticton and Trail that sent Alex Holland from the Island.
Jones鈥檚 30 points, which includes 26 assists, leaves him tied as the third-highest scoring defenceman in the sa国际传媒 Hockey League, behind Penticton鈥檚 Troy Stecher (36 points) and Salmon Arm鈥檚 Shane Hanna (35).
鈥淗e鈥檚 a leader in our room and he does everything from the defensive side and offensive side,鈥� said Grizzlies associate coach and assistant general manager Craig Didmon. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been a big part of our development from the start.
鈥淗e brings that Penticton [RBC Cup] championship experience with him and he understands what it takes to win.鈥�
Calm and cool, the five-foot-eight, 170-pounder has helped the Grizzlies to first-place overall .
鈥淗e鈥檚 always at that same level, composed,鈥� said Didmon. 鈥淲hen we鈥檙e in those one-goal games, he鈥檚 been there and done that and he goes out and does things as efficiently as if it were a five-goal game.鈥�
If fans were to have to select the team鈥檚 top defenceman, Jones would undoubtedly be that man.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been good that the team has had a lot of success and, individually, it鈥檚 been a good year for me as well,鈥� said Jones. 鈥淚t just shows that Bill [Bestwick] and the coaching staff have confidence in me.鈥�
As for school, Jones did get a chance to visit two institutions on his recent return home to Minnesota at Christmas. He is also visiting Ohio鈥檚 Bowling Green following this weekend鈥檚 play. 鈥淚鈥檓 confident that my schooling will work out and I鈥檓 just as confident in this group reaching its potential this season,鈥� he said.
IN THE DEN: The Grizzlies will entertain Powell River on Saturday (7:15 p.m.) . . . Further suspensions were handed down after the recent Victoria-Chilliwack incident. Bestwick, the Grizzlies鈥� GM and head coach, received one game, as did defenceman Chris Albertini. Chiefs assistant coach Brandon Fleenor was assessed five games for his role in the melee at the end of the Jan. 12 game.
