Fans can get a glimpse of potential first-round National Hockey League draft picks Dante Fabbro and Tyson Jost, not to mention the talents of Demico Hannoun and Scott Conway as the sa国际传媒 Hockey League-leading Penticton Vees venture into The Q Centre tonight.
The Vees, who also have goaltender Anthony Brodeur and centre Owen Sillinger (sons of NHLers Martin Brodeur and Mike Sillinger) in the lineup, bring their impressive 41-6-0-1 record in to face the 21-22-4-0 Victoria Grizzlies.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be interesting. We haven鈥檛 really seen them since the [BCHL] Showcase, so it鈥檚 been a while,鈥� said Grizzlies defenceman and assistant captain Cody Van Lierop. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have to come out with our A-game, especially after this [past] weekend.鈥�
The Grizzlies are coming off 6-3 and 7-2 losses on Saturday and Sunday to Alberni Valley and Nanaimo after recording seven straight victories, including a 6-3 triumph in Nanaimo on Friday.
鈥淎fter that first emotional win [in Nanaimo] we kind of went downhill a little,鈥� added Van Lierop. 鈥淲e鈥檒l have to pick it up and get back on our winning ways, come out as hard as possible against Penticton.鈥�
They will benefit from the return of defenceman Kevin Massy, who missed both losses due to suspension. But Mark Krabben will be lost to a one-game suspension and injuries to Brett Stirling, Tyler Welsh and Mitchell Barker will likely keep them out of the lineup tonight.
鈥淚t was not a good feeling sitting up there,鈥� Massy said of his spectator鈥檚 seat for the two setbacks.
鈥淲e鈥檒l get back to work on Thursday. We had a real tough battle on Friday [in Nanaimo], probably the most emotional game we鈥檝e played all year. We took the foot off the pedal a bit and that鈥檚 what happens when you do that.鈥�
They鈥檒l have to prove if they鈥檙e capable of playing against the likes of the Vees, before travelling to Port Alberni for another key divisional matchup against the Bulldogs on Friday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance to show the league we鈥檙e right in there with the top teams,鈥� offered Massy. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a fun game. It鈥檚 our first time seeing them so it will be a bit of a feeling-out process at the start. It鈥檚 always exciting to play the top teams.鈥�
The Grizzlies will also don the throw-back Victoria Salsa jersey for games in February.
鈥淚 have seen them and they are pretty phenomenal. I鈥檓 quite happy with them, maybe that鈥檚 the boost we need against Penticton,鈥� said Van Lierop, refusing to give any details regarding colours of the jerseys, which are expected to be red with black and white accents. 鈥淓veryone鈥檚 excited about wearing the old Salsa uni and hopefully we鈥檒l have some old fans back and we can put on an electric show.鈥�
He, for one, will not have trouble getting up for this game.
鈥淧laying against Jost and Fabbro, two first-round rated NHL players, I鈥檓 going to have to be on my A-game and it鈥檚 going to be a chance for me, and my teammates as well, to show we can compete with the best team in the BCHL,鈥� said Van Lierop.
And they need not overlook Alberni Valley the next night.
鈥淭hey won [Sunday] again and we need to get back on our horse real quick,鈥� Van Lierop said of the Bulldogs, who are four points back. 鈥淭hat game in Alberni will be another tough one and we鈥檒l have to battle through it.鈥�
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