The defending KIJHL Teck Cup and Mowat Cup champion Revelstoke Grizzlies enter a new Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season with a strong returning group that knows how to win. In their Quick Shift team preview, general manager Ryan Parent touches on expectations and some key players, who he hopes will lead to another championship season. Parent has also bolstered his coaching staff with the addition of Finnish assistant coach Viktor Karhu, who coached in Finland and Norway the last two seasons. “He’s really been a great addition.”
KIJHL: What should fans be excited about when it comes to this team?
RP: We’re returning close to 14 guys and the expectation on those players is higher. It’s a good nucleus of leaders that can show the way. I like our young editions, and I’m really excited to have goalie Rider Ponto, who we acquired from Kimberly, to backstop our group.
KIJHL: What areas are you looking to improve from last season?
RP: While we won the league and province last year, you’re always looking to get better. Mainly we want our players to work the right way, and have that continued culture. We want to have that mirrored through our organization and not let up.
KIJHL: You added Jake Phillips-Watts and Ponto in a trade, what do you like about each that they will bring?
RP: Exactly what I just said in the previous question. Phillips-Watts is a hard-working guy, who plays with a bit of bite and grit. From what I’ve seen in the preseason, he’s made some very good plays, and is a smart player. We got a good player there. (Note: Phillips-Watts has 33 points in 86 career regular season games and five points in 17 playoff games.)
When I watch Ponto, he’s structured, pretty quick, and seems to be loving it here. I watch him in practice and he’s got a real love for the game and that’s contagious. (Note: Ponto had 11 wins in 16 games with a .916 save rate and a 2.35 goals against average.)
KIJHL: Are there any returning players that you are expecting to have big seasons? Talk about what you are hoping to see from them.
RP: We got back Jacob Smith who played in Merritt the last couple years. He’s played well through the preseason and is working really hard. He missed action since last January and is a solid player that brings the work rate we want to have in our program.
Kesler Fyfe is coming into his 20-year-old season and a guy to keep an eye on. He could be a more dominant player. (He had 17 points in 40 games, added six points in 19 Teck Cup playoff games.)
Nathan White is coming in as a 20-year- old, so we have a pair of blueliners that are veterans that were impactful. (He had 11 points in 18 regular season games and 10 points in 18 playoff games.) White joined the Grizzlies after playing 69 games in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Olds Grizzlys and Whitecourt Wolverines over two seasons.
Colton McLeod produced 12 points in 23 regular season games, then added seven goals and 14 points in 18 playoff games.
Jett Patola has come back with a vengeance. He was a contributing player (25 points in 32 games – .78 points-per-game). He has a real chip on his shoulder and a point to prove this year. I’m excited to see what Patola will bring.
KIJHL: Are there first-year players who are ready to make an immediate impact?
RP: All our young guys are really good, but that’s something we will know in a month or two.
KIJHL: When it comes to your leadership group, what are the important characteristics that you want each player to possess?
RP: We let that form over the first couple weeks with players getting to know each other, coaches are learning about the players. Certain players will step up. We want them to be reflective of what it is to be a Revelstoke Grizzlies. We want them to lead by example with their play and that they step up accordingly. We’re starting to see some of those guys come forward.
Jacob Smith brings some leadership to the table and will be exactly what we needed this year as an injection. Smith has shown that he’s able to be a leader and an injection that we didn’t have last year so that’s good.
