With a 20-year-old playing for a pro contract, the Victoria Grizzlies believe they will have a well-motivated player in Brayden Gelsinger.
The sa国际传媒 Hockey league club acquired the centre from the West Kelowna Warriors in a trade for 20-year-old winger Garrett Forster.
鈥淚t was an offensively strong trade for us,鈥� said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon.
鈥淕elsinger is a proven player and a point-a-game player. We got a top, experienced centre. This solidifies our top-six and gives us offence down the middle. Gelsinger is one of the quickest players in the league.鈥�
The five-foot-10 native of Regina began his junior career in the Western Hockey League with the Kamloops Blazers and then played for the Cowichan Valley Capitals of the BCHL in 2013-14, scoring eight goals and garnering 38 points in 55 games. Last season was split between Cowichan Valley (six goals and 19 points in 17 games) and West Kelowna (12 goals and 37 points in 39 games).
鈥淲ith centre Shawn McBride leaving [to the U.S. collegiate NCAA], this fills a void,鈥� said Didmon. 鈥淲e have talent coming in but we don鈥檛 have experience [with only seven returnees]. Gelsinger will bring that experience.鈥�
The five-foot-10 Delta product Forster meanwhile, is also a point-a-game forward with 17 goals and 45 points in 45 games last season.
The Grizzlies open the BCHL season Sept. 11 in Cowichan Valley.
