With puck drop on the 2025-26 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season coming on Sept. 19, kijhl.ca is providing fans with a preview on all 21 teams. Next in the Quick Shift series are the Revelstoke Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies finished second in the Bill Ohlhausen division last season with a record of 32-7-1-4. They advanced to the KIJHL Teck Cup Finals, losing in four games to the Grand Forks Border Bruins.
Going into this season, Grizzlies general manager Ryan Parent said they made it their goal to be more competitive.
“I think that daily we have started to do that,” said Parent. “We felt we fell short last year in the finals. It’s kind of bittersweet. We didn’t get done what we set out to do, so we feel that we can make the necessary adjustments this year to be more competitive and have an opportunity to be back.”
Returning Players: F- Jake Neufeld (33-19-18-37), Jett Patola (39-15-20-35), Jake Phillips-Watts (44-15-18-33), Connor Shymoniak (42-10-16-26), Weston Field (41-5-10-15), Dayton Abbott (35-9-4-13), Tomas Boon (29-1-4-5), Jaylen Forsyth (14-0-2-2), D-Farris Meddeb (37-4-21-25), Diego Smith (39-6-15-21), Kaidon Mah (34-2-7-9).
Acquisitions: F- Reid Ashcroft (via trade from Golden Rockets – 36-2-9-11), D- Ethan Hamilton (via trade from Warman Wolverines – SJHL – 23-0-7-7), G-Austin Seibel (via trade from the Powassan Voodoos – Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League – 10-15-5 | 3.47 GAA | .911 SP.)
Rookies: F-Jake Baker – Whitecourt Wolverines U18AA – AEHL (32-26-27-53), Daniel Erwin – OMAHA North Zone U18AA (17-8-9-17), Brennen Coutts – Okanagan Rockets U18AAA (25-27-25-52), D- Maddox Popke – St.Albert Raiders U18AAA (38-7-16-23), Brock Hudson – Whitecourt Wolverines U18AA – AEHL (28-10-32-42).
Team Outlook: Goaltending has been stabilized by trading for former North Okanagan Knights goalie Austin Seibel. The Coldstream, B.C. native began his junior career with the Knights in 2022-23, when he was 17, winning 16 of 29 games with a 2.95 GAA and a .926 SP. That season he played in the BCHC Prospects Game for the KIJHL. He has spent the past two seasons in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and NOJHL.
“We were looking for a more mature goaltender and Austin’s character, attitude and work ethic all fit the bill,” said Parent. “I think he’s going to be a very competitive goaltender, he’s going to allow our club to be competitive.”
Rookies Jalen Pehowich and William Stewart are also battling for a roster spot. Pehowich, a local product, earned a spot at the start of last season with the Grizzlies. He played in two games stopping 61 of 69 shots for an .884 SP.
Grizzlies head coach Jiri Novak is pretty confident with the group they have and he’s looking forward to the season.
“We are going to be a team that plays with a high pace, will be physical and play how we did before,” said Novak.
