The Island’s top B.C. Hockey League club has earned three nominations for the league’s end of season awards as goaltender Matthew Galajda, defenceman Jake Stevens and head coach Craig Didmon were all announced as finalists for league honours.
Galajda, who posted a 24-10-0-2 record to go along with a 2.34 GAA and a save percentage of .926, is the Island Division’s nominee in the Most Valuable Player category. He’ll be up against Wenatchee Wild forward Brendan Harris and Penticton Vees goalie Mat Robson for the honour.
Stevens posted 51 points in 56 games, good enough for second in the league among all defencemen, to earn a place as one of the league’s top blueliners. He’ll face competition from Tyler Anderson of the Prince George Spruce Kings and Michael Ufberg from the Vernon Vipers for the award.
Finally, Didmon was behind the bench for a Grizzlies turnaround that saw them go from worst to first in the Island Division after missing the playoffs a year ago. Other coaching nominees include the Wild’s Bliss Littler and the Vees’ Fred Harbinson.
The nominees were decided through a coaches vote. Another round of voting will take place and the winners will be announced before the start of the playoffs next week.
The Grizzlies have two games remaining in the regular season, a home and home with the Nanaimo Clippers. The weekend’s results will decide whether Victoria faces the Cowichan Valley Capitals or the Clippers in the first round of the BCHL playoffs.
Grizzlies recruit Victoria native
Earlier on Thursday, the Grizzlies announced that they have received a two-year commitment from former first round WHL pick Jacson Alexander. The Victoria native is currently in his second season with the Shawnigan Lake School Prep Team and will make his Grizzlies debut next year.
Alexander, an offensive defenceman, was taken in the first round of the 2016 WHL Bantam draft by the Swift Current Broncos but has opted to play in the BCHL to keep his NCAA eligibility.
He’s already committed to play at the University of Denver starting in the fall of 2019.
“We are very pleased with Jacson’s choice to join our hockey club next season. Jacson is a local player who we have been tracking for many seasons. The fact that this talented young man is going to make the Grizzlies a part of his hockey journey makes us extremely proud and we are excited to help him develop into a NCAA and professional hockey player.” stated Didmon.
joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com
