OLDS — The loss of two key Olds Grizzlys players to the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) leaves a big hole in point production, but it’s also an opportunity for other players on the squad, head coach Brad Tobin says.
Antonio Bevacqua, who played in the BCHL last season, joined Salmon Arm and Mitch Patrick has left for Naniamo.
Bevacqua was leading the Grizzlys, having racked up 27 points in 27 games, including 13 goals. Patrick was tied for second in scoring with eight goals and 24 points in 29 games.
Because the BCHL is a non-sanctioned league, not under Hockey Canada, the Grizzlys were not expected to receive anything in return for the loss of those two players.
“Some players are going to have to step up their production with the losses of Bevacqua and Patrick,” Tobin wrote in a text. “It opens up opportunities for players on our roster moving forward.”
Around the time of the departure of Bevacqua and Patrick, the Grizzlys initially obtained 17-year-old forward and Strathmore native Phoenix Flett of the KIJHL Grand Forks Border Bruins in exchange for future considerations.
Grizzlys manager of business operations Kevin Watson says that trade is now complete.
The Grizzlys play two back-to-back games early in the new year.
They host the Bonnyville Pontiacs on Jan. 3 and Devon on Jan. 4.
“We’re hoping with the holiday break behind us now, the players will be fresh and ready to have a good second half,” Tobin wrote.
He has some advice for how they could kick off that second half with some wins.
“We need to have energy in our game for a full 60-minutes, make sure that we’re making simple and effective plays around the ice and that we’re getting traffic towards the net in the offensive zone,” he wrote.
Notes from the Bench
The Grizzlys are hosting the Ramada Inn U15AA tournament Jan. 2-5.
