It isn鈥檛 Guy Lombardo-like entertainment, but it is the hottest team in the sa国际传媒 Hockey League that is looking to turn up the heat on its Island Division opponent, beginning at 7:15 p.m. as the last day of the Gregorian calendar approaches.
鈥淲e鈥檇 like to pick up where we left off and the boys know that, too. That鈥檒l be our focus,鈥� said Grizzlies assistant coach and general manager Craig Didmon. 鈥淭he boys had a good break, about 10 days, so we鈥檙e healthy and in a good frame of mind.鈥�
Attitude has not been a problem for the 2012-13 version of the Grizzlies, who were second overall in the league 鈥� one point behind Penticton with a game in hand 鈥� prior to the BCHL getting back to work on Friday night.
鈥淭his group is very self-motivated,鈥� said Didmon. 鈥淭here is some great leadership on the ice. They鈥檒l get going. One thing about this team is they love to play the games, and at practice, they鈥檙e out early and we have to drag them off.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e more believers now,鈥� he added of his 22-8-0-2 club. 鈥淗aving played the first half and seen almost every team; we鈥檝e battled hard and I think they鈥檙e saying, 鈥�;Wow, we belong where we are.鈥� Hopefully, in the second half we reach new goals.鈥�
Rivals Nanaimo, and a trip into Cowichan on Wednesday night, are a good way for this team to shed 2012 and welcome in 2013.
鈥淭hese divisional games are important,鈥� said Didmon. 鈥淚t鈥檚 never easy to win in Cowichan and Nanaimo was coming down earlier on Friday. We鈥檙e hoping to have a good game for what, hopefully, will be a big crowd. The boys have made a good mark in the league the first half.鈥�
Led by the Fitzgerald triplets, with Myles now sitting sixth overall in league scoring with 15 goals and 23 assists, six points better than brother Gerry (18G, 14A) and 10 more than Leo (13G, 15A). Myles has been on an incredible run with five goals and four assists in his last four games.
鈥淚鈥檓 just in the right spot at the right time, I guess, and I have two great linemates feeding me the puck, in my brothers, so it鈥檚 awesome,鈥� said Myles, who is just two points below his entire total from last season and desperately wants to see the win streak continue.
鈥淔ive straight is unreal. I think we鈥檙e just out-working teams and good things are happening. Puck luck is on our side and we鈥檙e learning how to win.鈥�
The triplets have now produced 46 of the team鈥檚 107 goals.
鈥淭hose kids are special and they鈥檙e dynamic and they create so many scoring chances and opportunities.,鈥� said Grizzlies鈥� GM and head coach Bill Bestwick, who also had the trio in Nanaimo two seasons ago. 鈥淲hen you compete as hard as they do and want to score, things work out in your favour. Those three are so good together and they鈥檙e dynamite.鈥�
IN THE DEN: Home teams will switch over to dark jerseys for the rest of the season, beginning tonight for the Grizz ... Bestwick was scouting at the Mac鈥檚 Midget Tournament in Calgary but is expected back for the game against his former club.
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