Grizzlies reload roster for Teck Cup run

Revelstoke Grizzlies’ head coach Ryan Parent is confident the Junior B hockey team will be a contender in the Teck Cup playoffs this season.

“I have been impressed by the way our group has responded,” said Parent, who is waiting to see over the next month or two what they bring.

Parent said the current team roster is a good group, despite losing some players to Junior A teams, and their philosophy has been to try to grow players from within

“We’re going to let these guys grow their game and show us they can get the job done,” he said.

Returning veterans this year are Brendan Vulcano, Raymond Speerbrecker, Cash Sawchyn, Kole Christensson, Cole Berg, Caleb Dancey and John Lee. Parent says those are players that you notice every game.

“They compete every game. They are expected to be dominant on the ice. They know the culture of our dressing room. I’m a big culture guy. The veteran players are an extension of the coaching staff.”

Speerbrecker, Parent says, has been an outstanding captain over the last two years.

Find out more about changes to Junior B hockey this season, including how you can watch games from home, here:

Revelstoke Grizzlies regular season kicks off mid-November

Between the pipes, the Grizzlies are in good shape with Noah Desouza, who Parent considers to be one of the top goalies in the KIJHL. The second-year goalie will share the crease with off-season addition Brandon Weare, picked up from Golden for future considerations.

“I thought he had a reasonably good season as a first year goaltender,” says Parent. “He has done really well with us at this point. Weare is not too far behind him (Desouza).”

New to the team this year are: Carter Bettenson, Owen Chamberland, Riley Klugerman, Collin Kozijn, Bennett Kuhnlein, Jovan Malay, Ethan Mattern, Tyden McWillis, Corson Penman, Dylan Westlake, Jackson Desouza, Will McPhee, Borys Protsenko, Josh Singh and Kayden Sutherland.

Parent said he is seeing players improve daily, which he adds “is always exciting as a coach to think that you are playing a part in helping someone be better than he thought he could be.”

The Grizzlies finished second overall in the KIJHL’s regular season standings with 39 wins. In the Teck Cup playoffs they went 6-0. Parent says with the turnover they had, he feels their needs have been addressed.

The KIJHL Junior B regular season kicked off November 13. The Grizzlies take on the Golden Rockets in away game action this Friday, Nov.20 at 7:30 p.m. Due to ongoing COVID restrictions fans are unable to attend games in person.