The Victoria Grizzlies have signed a new goaltender for the 2025-26 season. 2006-born Paolo Frasca comes from St. Andrew’s College of the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario Athletic Association.
Frasca is not the first St. Andrew’s alumni to play for the Grizzlies as goaltender Matthew Galajda and forward Alex Newhook played at the school before journeying west to Victoria.
This article is about Frasca’s path to the Grizzlies. Before that, I will talk about the future of the current Grizzlies goaltenders. Specifically, the path 2005-born Oliver Auyeung-Ashton will take and the paths 2004-born Kyle Kelsey could take.
Leaving the den
In October 2023, Auyeung-Ashton committed to play at Colgate University. After a one-year return to the BCHL, the Coquitlam, B.C. product will join the Raiders men’s ice hockey team this fall.
As for Kelsey, his future is uncertain. There are several paths he could take after aging out of junior hockey this season. One example is following Galajda’s path. After time at Cornell and Notre Dame in the NCAA, Galajda signed to play pro hockey in Europe and spent this season with Lausitzer Füchse in the second-tier league in Germany,.
Another example is Cole Schwebius, who just wrapped up his third season with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds men’s hockey team. Schwebius committed to UBC in July 2022.
These are just two ways Kelsey could go after aging out of junior hockey. With 75 games of experience in the Western Hockey League and 47 games in the BCHL, there’s no doubt he’s on the radar of NCAA or NCAA Division III schools.
Frasca’s beginnings in Ontario
Frasca played minor hockey in the Toronto Titans hockey program, spending the 2019-20 season with the U14 AAA team. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, he didn’t play during the 2020-21 season.
In 2021-22, Frasca moved to the Toronto Jr. Canadiens U16 AAA team and was selected by the Windsor Spitfires in the 11th round of the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. One year later, the Maple, Ont. native played 38 games for the Jr. Canadiens U18 AAA squad and posted a 1.34 goals-against average. He also signed with the Markham Royals of the Ontario Junior Hockey League as an affiliate player but didn’t play any games.
Frasca joined St. Andrew’s College for the 2023-24 season and appeared in 37 games, posting four shutouts. He also made his junior hockey debut with the OJHL’s Toronto Jr. Canadians as an affiliate, making 41 saves in a 3-1 loss to the St. Michael’s Buzzers. Frasca’s record as a rookie with St. Andrew’s was 25-9-0.
As a sophomore this past season, he was 30-9-1 with three shutouts. Frasca was also an alternate captain for St. Andrew’s in 2024-25.
Changes in the den
Frasca was Victoria’s first official player signing for the 2025-26 season. He joins a changing Grizzlies team that sees several players leave the roster.
As noted above, Auyeung-Ashton and Kelsey will leave the Grizzlies after this season. Also moving on from Victoria is 2005-born forward Malcolm Green, who is off to Princeton University for the 2025-26 NCAA season.
Grizzlies’ 2004-born forward Reegan Hiscock departs the Grizzlies to attend Cornell University while 2004-born captain Jacksenn Hungle is committed to Canisius College. Finally, 2004-born forward Will Schumacher will play at Mercyhurst University starting in the 2025-26 season.
Image credit: St. Andrew’s College – Paul Mosey
