With the regular season approaching, the Victoria Grizzlies have undergone several changes. The biggest one came in May when Rylan Ferster took over as head coach and general manager.
Since then, several more changes were made. These include hiring new assistant coaches and a new play-by-play broadcaster.
In August, Ferster recruited forward Reegan Hiscock will join the Grizzlies from the Pinnacle Growlers U18 AAA team. Hiscock is the second Grizzlies player to come from Newfoundland and Labrador.
This article is about chronicling the changes made so far. The first set of changes is from behind the bench. The second set involves changes to business operations. Finally, I’ll note any player signings made.
Behind the bench
Joining Ferster as an assistant coach is Geoff Grimwood. Grimwood has an extensive coaching career across several different leagues. Before joining the Grizzlies, he was head coach of the Kamloops Storm of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League for one season. He stepped away from the team to be closer to his family, which lives on Vancouver Island.
Grimwood has coached both the Powell River Kings and West Kelowna Warriors. He was briefly the head coach of the Cowichan Valley Capitals and resigned before the 2020-21 extended training camp.
Grimwood’s last junior A coaching job was with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Winkler Flyers as an assistant coach during the 2020-21 season.
Front office and behind the mic
Being promoted in the Grizzlies front office is Byron Loucks, who is the team’s new president. He is the former owner of Westcoast Appliances and retired from the business last year.
Loucks joined the team in December 2021 as vice president of business operations. In August, Grizzlies governor Ron Walchuk appointed him as president.
Aside from a new president, the Grizzlies have a new person behind the mic. After 21 seasons, Scott Didmon is no longer the Grizzlies’ play-by-play broadcaster.
In his place, Victoria hired Tom Wilke as its new broadcaster. He will also serve as the Grizzlies’ sales associate. Previously, Wilke was the play-by-play broadcaster for the Brock University men’s hockey team, calling U SPORTS games.
New players
In August, Ferster made his first player signing with Hiscock joining the team for this season. Before joining the Grizzlies, Hiscock played two seasons for the Pinnacle Growlers U18 AAA team. In 2021-22, he scored 35 goals and 16 assists.
Another new player is an American import, Anthony Carone, who is from the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite hockey program. Last season, Carone played on three different Penguins Elite teams and scored a combined 31 goals and 53 assists.
Victoria’s new backup goaltender is Oliver Auyeung-Ashton. Auyeung-Ashton played last season with the Vancouver NE Chiefs U18 AAA team in the BC Elite Hockey League. In 22 games, Auyeung-Ashton had a 2.36 goals-against average to go along with an 18-2-1 record.
Victoria’s new starting goaltender is Ansel Holt. Last season, Holt played 26 games with the Maine Nordiques of the North American Hockey League. He is committed to playing NCAA hockey at the US Military Academy.
Finally, the Grizzlies added a major junior player from the QMJHL.
Olivier Picard played last season with the Memorial Cup champion Saint John Sea Dogs. He’s a 20-year-old forward entering his final season of junior hockey. Last season, Picard scored seven goals and 14 assists in 62 games.
Before the regular season, the Grizzlies conducted two trades. They acquired forward Jacksenn Hungle from the Surrey Eagles for future considerations and also picked up forward Max Donohoe from the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s North York Rangers.
Last season, Hungle played for the Merritt Centennials and posted five goals and nine assists in 35 games. He was traded to Surrey by Merritt earlier this off-season. As for Donohoe, he put up 23 goals and 26 assists in 47 games with the Rangers.
Departing players
Before the pre-season started, the Grizzlies made a trade with the Wenatchee Wild. In exchange for futures, the Grizzlies received forward Owen Bohn. In 42 games last season, Bohn notched 14 goals and 15 assists.
In July, forward Matthew Wood decided to attend the University of Connecticut a year early, which leaves a gaping hole in Victoria’s forward group. Wood was the league’s top scorer in 2021-22, earning the Brett Hull Trophy, and is a top prospect for the 2023 National Hockey League Draft.
Also in August, the Grizzlies traded Tim Kim to the Waywayseecappo Wolverines of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. In exchange, the Grizzlies received futures.
With the new players joining the Grizzlies, Ferster is looking to put his mark on the team. During his first tenure in Victoria, Ferster had some exceptionally talented players on his team. Most notably, Jamie and Jordie Benn, and Tyler Bozak. Those three are Grizzlies all-time greats and Fester can impart his experience coaching them on a new generation of players in Victoria.
