Last May, the Victoria Grizzlies came within three wins of reaching their first BCHL championship series since 2001.
Since then, Colwood's BCHL club has been busy revamping their roster.
On Sunday, the Grizzlies announced three of their biggest additions yet, signing Artur Gross, Matthew Jenken, and Tayjon Street.
Gross, a 6’, 170-pound forward, comes from Kazakhstan after posting 22 points in 37 games with Snezhnye Barsy Astana in Russia’s top junior league (MHL).
The 20-year-old also appeared in seven KHL games with Barys Astana. At the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship, he led all Kazakh skaters with three goals and one assist.
"He's got international experience and a dynamic offensive toolkit, with quick hands, elite vision, and scoring touch that give us another dangerous weapon up front," said the Grizzlies.
Jenken, 19, a 6’4”, 200-pound right-shot defenceman, joins Victoria after three OHL seasons split between the Flint Firebirds and Peterborough Petes, posting three goals and 26 assists in 113 games.
"Jenken is a physical rush defender who constantly pushes the play forward. He turns pucks in the defensive zone into quick rushes, hiding his intentions as teammates skate their routes, then connecting through the forecheck," highlighted the Elite Prospects’ 2024 draft guide.
Street, a 6’1”, 205-pound forward, spent last season with the Sudbury Wolves, appearing in 62 OHL games. The 20-year-old recorded three goals, two assists, and 71 penalty minutes in 2024-25, while also representing Jamaica at the International Challenger Series.
"He is a proven power forward with a fearless style of play. A fan-favourite in the making. Street is known for his physical presence, relentless forecheck, and ability to shift the game’s momentum in an instant," the Grizzlies said.
For director of player personnel Bo Lewis, the signings are another step forward.
"It’s not every day you get to add size, grit, and skill to your team, so we could not be more excited," Lewis said.
The trio headline a summer of significant roster turnover in Colwood.
The Grizzlies have added 13 other players, including goaltender Carter Capton (Vancouver Giants), Vidar Blixt (MoDo Hockey J20), Landen Ward (Moose Jaw Warriors), Niklas Karjalainen (Jukurit U20), and Michael Dowdall (Humboldt Broncos).
They’ll join a locker room adjusting to the departure of several key veterans headed to NCAA programs.
That departing list includes longtime netminder Olivier Auyeung-Ashton (Northern Michigan), Reegan Hiscock (Cornell), Chase Pirtle (Cornell), Tom Molson (Yale), Seamus Latta (Princeton), Tobias Pitka (Northern Michigan), and Will Schumacher (Mercyhurst).
Grizzlies training camp opens Sept. 2 at the Q Centre. The team will play four preseason games between Sept. 5 and 13 before starting their 2025-26 BCHL season on Sept. 20 in Coquitlam.
