Cole Pickup would like to forget about last year's disappointing season with the South Island Thunderbirds in the sa国际传媒 Major Midget Hockey League.
With all the changes, he should have little trouble doing that. Since the end of last year, the team has changed its name to South Island Royals (affiliated with the Western Hockey League Royals). The midget Royals also have a new coach (Geoff Grimwood), new home (Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre) and 14 new players.
"We only had three wins in 40 games last year and for sure it was frustrating,'' said the 16-year-old forward Pickup. "Last year showed me that we will have to work twice as hard this year to get results.''
The Royals kick off the BCMMHL season today against the Vancouver North West Giants at the Memorial Centre. Game time is at noon. Tonight at 7 p.m., the WHL Royals will play their home opener against the Giants.
The powerful North West Giants are the defending league champions. They will also meet the Royals again on Sunday, 9: 45 a.m. at the Memorial Centre.
Pickup, who played his minor hockey in the Juan de Fuca system, was one of the last cuts made by the Victoria Grizzlies of the sa国际传媒 Hockey League.
"Two years ago, I was invited to the Kelowna Rockets' camp and I didn't make the team,'' said Pickup. "I had several WHL teams interested in me this year but I decided that my best opportunity would be with the Grizzlies. I am now one of their affiliated players."
And Pickup is no stranger to the Giants.
"What makes the Giants so good is their work ethic and skill. In our first game against them last year, we tied them but then they dominated us.''
Pickup, 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds, says the strengths of his game are "speed and hockey sense.''
Grimwood likes the make up of his 20-man roster. "I really like our attitude and work ethic,'' said Grimwood. Our team has a little bit of everything - speed, skill, physicality and toughness.
"I have a lot of respect for the Giants team, but we will go after them hard.
Vancouver has the type of organization that we want to have here. They have good coaching, the kids want to play there and they work hard.''
Some of the other key players for Grimwood are expected to be defenceman Garrett Stankoven and Jack Rachwalski.
"Garrett [Stankoven] is returning for us and he has a lot of good qualities. We will really be depending on him. Jack [Rachwalski] is a rookie and he has been a pleasant surprise. He will be an integral part of our team.''
The Royals played three exhibition games, posting a 5-3 win over the North Island Silvertips and 3-1 and 6-3 victories over the Fraser Valley Bruins. In the 6-3 game, the Royals stormed back with six goals during the last 18 minutes of the game.
