Mid-March in Canada means many things: daylight savings time, winter turning into spring, and playoffs in junior hockey.
As the BCHL regular season heads into its final stretch, the Victoria Grizzlies find themselves at a pivotal juncture with five games remaining.
Currently sitting at 26-16-7-0 with 59 points, the Grizzlies are in fourth place in the tightly contested Coastal Conference. Heading into tonight’s action, just seven points separate the second-place Surrey Eagles and seventh-place Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Grizzlies president and governor, David Michaud, knows the team is still in control of their outcome, with home-ice advantage being a major goal.
“We’re in control of our own destiny,” Michaud said. “If we finish strong, we should have home-ice advantage, which is all you can really ask for in these kinds of races. That part is comforting.”
Victoria will be on the grand stage on Tuesday, hosting a rare weekday game at the Q Centre, the lone game across the league, with the top-ranked Chilliwack Chiefs visiting.
The team enters tonight’s game on a four-game losing streak, including a tough road trip that saw them travel between Cranbrook and Langley. Despite the tough stretch, Michaud remains optimistic about his team’s ability to rebound.
“I think we just need to start playing the right way,” Michaud said. “We’ve shown we can compete with the top teams in the Coastal Conference when we play a full 60 minutes. That’s what we’re looking for tonight – a complete effort from everyone.”
Michaud and the Grizzlies have had this stretch of March games circled on the calendar since the schedule was released, knowing how impactful it may end up being.
“It’s almost like a little taste of what the postseason’s going to look like,” Michaud said. “You’re often playing four games in five nights or four in six, just like the playoff series. It’s a good opportunity for us to figure out what we’re in store for moving forward.”
As the team aims to finish strong, Michaud is focused on honing the team’s identity in these final five games.
“You can’t just flip a switch and start playing playoff hockey,” Michaud said. “For me, this last stretch is about making sure we’re playing the way we need to play to have success in the postseason. We’ve done that for stretches throughout the year, and I’m confident we can find that form again.”
The Coastal Conference standings have never been tighter. Michaud, in his 10th year in the BCHL, described the current race as “probably as tight as I’ve ever seen it.”
“This year, from one through eight, you can make a case for any team being a tough opponent. No matter who you play, it’s going to be a tough series,” Michaud said. “That’s why these last few games are so important. We need to make sure we’re ready for what’s coming.”
One of the biggest signs of confidence for the Grizzlies has been their special teams, currently sitting third in the league on the power play and second on the penalty kill.
“We take a lot of pride in our special teams,” Michaud said. “When it gets tight, it’s often the power play that can make the difference. We prepare all year for these moments, and we hope when the opportunity presents itself, our special teams come through.”
As the team prepares for tonight’s matchup against Chilliwack, the message is clear: a full 60-minute effort is needed to rebound from their recent slump and take control of their destiny heading into the playoffs.
“We know we’re comfortable regardless of how the standings shake out,” Michaud said. “But the most important thing is when the puck drops for game one of the playoffs, we want to feel confident about where our game’s at.”
