Rapid risers are pleasant surprises for any sports team. But Drew Hockley perhaps grew too quickly for the Victoria Grizzlies.
The six-foot-five defenceman had obvious size but arrived unheralded from Kentville, Nova Scotia, without a college commitment. Yet, Hockley earned one in rapid time this fall from 2023 NCAA champion Quinnipiac University in sa国际传媒icut as his ascent with the Grizzlies has been so breathless that he is now skating away from the sa国际传媒 Hockey League club to the Bobcats mid-season. Hockley leaves in second place in Grizzlies team scoring and second in BCHL scoring by defencemen with eight goals and 24 points in 23 games.
“Quinnipiac has a great reputation for hockey and was the NCAA Frozen Four national champion two years ago, so it’s a very appealing place to play,” Hockley told the sa国际传媒.
He said he patterns his game after multiple Norris Trophy-winning NHL defenceman Erik Karlsson: “I liked how [Karlsson] was always great on both sides of the puck.”
Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins is still going strong and was named to the Sweden national team roster this week for the 4 Nations Face-Off. That is certainly a good, if heady, example to follow and clearly has held Hockley in good stead. But it has sure rocked the Grizzlies’ blue line.
“There is obvious disappointment from a selfish standpoint to lose Drew because he makes us a better hockey team,” Grizzlies president David Michaud said in a statement.
“On the other side, we’re thrilled we could help him realize his dream of playing in the NCAA. We’re excited to follow his career and wish him the best as he gets started with Quinnipiac.”
The Grizzlies looked to compensate for the loss of Hockley by making two blue line additions. Prime among them was this week acquiring NCAA Division 1 Northeastern University-committed rearguard Garrett Frazer from Haymarket, Virginia. The rugged rearguard had 15 points and 127 penalty minutes last season in the NAHL with the Janesville Jets and six points in 10 games this season. The six-foot 18-year-old has also spent time with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL after playing Under-15 and U-16 in the noted HoneyBaked rep program in Detroit.
“I hope to bring a high level of physicality and heavy hockey for the defensive side of the game, as well as having a good first pass and joining the rush to create scoring chances,” Frazer said in a statement.
Geoff Grimwood, Grizzlies associate coach and director of player personnel, said Frazer “is going to make our backend stronger and deeper.”
The Grizzlies also traded for Evan Stastny from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs for future BCHL considerations. The six-foot-three blue-liner from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, had one point in 14 games in Port Alberni and is headed to the NCAA Div. 1 at Lake Superior State.
Grizzlies head coach and general manager Rylan Ferster said he liked Stastny’s size and that the trade adds depth to the blue line.
Both Frazer and Stastny are expected in the lineup tonight when the Coastal Conference third-place Grizzlies (14-6-3) meet the conference ninth-place Prince George Spruce Kings (7-13-3) on Teddy Bear Toss Night at The Q Centre before heading across the strait Tuesday to play the fourth-place Eagles (13-8-3) in South Surrey.
