Jr A hockey team north of Calgary prepares for homeopener

OLDS — The Olds Grizzlys team is busy getting ready for its homeopener Friday, Sept. 13 when it hosts the Drumheller Dragons at the Sportsplex.

Game time is 7 pm, but before then, the Grizzlys will also hold the team’s annual tailgate party, starting at 4 pm

The Grizzlys’ six-game Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) exhibition season ended Sept. 7 with a 5-1 loss at home to the Canmore Eagles. Rookie Quinn Metzger scored the lone goal for the Grizzlys in that game.

After winning their first three games, the Grizzlys ended up with a 3-3 exhibition record, losing by some lopsided scores.

But that’s the way exhibition goes. After all, the goal is not necessarily to win, but to evaluate talent. Grizzlys head coach Brad Tobin says the six-game series gave the coaching staff that opportunity.

“The pre-season was good,” he wrote in a text. “We got an understanding of where everyone will fit in our lineup and what changes need to be made moving forward.

“Some of those games showed what needs to be improved in our structure. We need to work on our puck movement and speed for next weekend. Once we start breaking out pucks smoother, it’ll help our whole game out.”

Tobin says another challenge is that once again, the Grizzlys will be a very youthful squad.

“We’re going to be a younger team for sure, not many second, third-year players, so it’ll take time for the first-years to get their feet wet in the AJHL,” he wrote.

Ace of Sept. 9, The Grizzlys roster, posted on their website, showed three goaltenders: veteran Thomas Samborski, rookie Connor White and Connor Johnson, formerly property of the Fort McMurray Oil Barons.

Tobin was asked if he’s settled on a no. 1 goaltender and a back-up.

“Johnson looks to be the goalie at the moment who will start opening night for us,” he wrote.

Former Olds Grizzly forward Mitch Visser, 24, has been named a second assistant coach for the team, along with Colten Hayes, announced earlier.

“Mitch will be another set of eyes for us, both in practice and during games,” Tobin wrote.

“He’s a young coach, so we’re still figuring out where he’ll be most effective on our staff.”