Game Day @ Victoria...again

Game two of back-to-back games with the Royals.  Victoria will be without Robin Soudek.

Robin Soudek Victoria Tbd under supplemental discipline versus Tri-Cities on December 6 (WHL)

I don't know what he did, but he was a bad boy apparently.

Word is Comrie gets the start tonight, not surprised by that at all.

"Mike and Paul needed someone to shoot on, so, me being the youngest, I was forced into it," the backup Tri-City Americans netminder says with a laugh, referring to his half-brothers, who both played in the National Hockey League.

"When we drafted him, we weren't sure he would be coming because there were strong NCAA ties with his brothers," says Americans' general manager Bob Tory, who selected Eric 13th overall in the WHL bantam draft in 2010.

"So not only could I talk about development for young goaltenders, but I could show I had done it before, which was important to both Eric and Bill - to see it wasn't just a case of coming in and not playing," says Tory, who is pleased with Eric's start.

"He has the potential of being a very, very good goaltender and he's shown that this year."  (Victoria Times Colonist)

Of course, Victoria-native Sam Grist is happy to be back on the island.

Another impactful player on the Americans’ defence is Victoria-raised Sam Grist, the Peninsula minor hockey product and Parkland High grad who began his junior career in the BCHL with the hometown Grizzlies. His is a story of perseverance after being overlooked in the WHL bantam draft. But the late bloomer has grown from six-feet into a pounding six-foot-four frame and provides an ample presence on the Americans blue-line.

“Sam was not a big star in minor hockey but he’s taken it to another level with his steady progression,” said Hiller.

“Maybe there is something about Tri-City and Island defencemen like Sam and Clayton Stoner [the latter from Port Hardy and in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild]. Sam plays an important role for us.”

You just know Grist had these Victoria dates circled when the season began.

“For me to come back home and play is a really cool experience,” he said.  “I haven’t played in my hometown since my 16-year-old season when I was the youngest player on the Grizzlies.”  (VTC)

There will be liveblog tonight, this one I might be late to as well, but should be around at some point.