The Grizzlies finished the 20-game pandemic season at 14-6 and celebrated with the obligatory champions’ group picture at centre ice. Shortened season or not, the players were not going to be denied that moment.
The second-place Bulldogs (10-5-4) have a game remaining, tonight against the Nanaimo Clippers (8-11), but can’t catch the Grizzlies. The Cowichan Valley Capitals finished at 7-11-2. There are no playoffs.
“I told the players to enjoy this and to appreciate it and that nobody can take it away from them,” said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon.
“It was a tough season, considering the circumstances, but they stuck to it. They wanted this and deserved it. We had a strong team and deserved the outcome we got. It’s a testament to the players’ dedication and commitment. It’s an especially incredible moment for our six graduating 20-year-olds.”
“We’ve created a mindset where we want to beat each of the other teams four times to prove to ourselves we would be successful in a best-of-seven playoff series against them,” said Craig Didmon, head coach and GM of the Grizzlies.
That’s a victory of the mind. The real prize now becomes the title of the BCHL Island Division regular season, in which the teams are playing 20 games each in the Port Alberni hub.
In place of a post-season and year-end awards, a champion from each of the league’s five hubs will be determined based on total points in the table or winning percentage if the games played were not equal. Each hub will hand out individual awards for MVP, leading scorer, rookie of the year, best defenceman and top goaltender.
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