The BC Hockey League Showcase in Chilliwack, a one-stop shopping spree for NCAA and NHL scouts, is tailor-made for players like Justin Gibson of the Victoria Grizzlies who are being looked at but not yet committed to a US university team.
“This is the big event of the year for us with lots of scouts there and lots of eyes on you,” said Gibson.
“I feel prepared going in.”
As he should. More of a stay-at-home-defender, Gibson doesn’t have any points in seven games but his even plus-minus is impressive on a team that doesn’t score much.
“We are definitely a tight-checking blueline group and I’m a defense-first player who likes to control our own end,” said the six-foot-one American rearguard from Pittsburgh.
But Gibson, 19, can pop out of the defensive zone when needed, as evidenced by his five goals and 19 points in 48 regular-season games last season in Victoria.
Gibson is the brother of Anaheim Ducks NHL goaltender John Gibson. Asked once why he didn’t follow his brother into the crease, the younger Gibson quipped: “Our parents said there was only one goalie in the family.”
The Grizzlies are happy he made that decision as Gibson has helped anchor the Victoria blueline and has become a team leader in his second season with the club.
“I enjoy the leadership role and being the guy the younger players come to with their questions,” he said.
All the BCHL teams are preparing to descend on Chilliwack for the BCHL Showcase this week from Monday through Thursday. Each team plays two league games in the Fraser Valley city with the Grizzlies meeting the West Kelowna Warriors on Monday morning at 10 am and the Merritt Centennials on Tuesday afternoon at 4 pm The Cowichan Valley Capitals meeting the Cranbrook Bucks at 4 pm Monday and Trail Smoke Eaters at 2:30 pm Tuesday. The Nanaimo Clippers play the Bucks at 10 am Tuesday and Smoke Eaters at 4 pm Wednesday. The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are versus the Vernon Vipers at 1 pm Wednesday and the Penticton Vees at 1 pm Thursday.
There are a record 410 BCHL alumni on Div. 1 teams for the 2022-23 NCAA season, eclipsing the previous standard of 380 from last season. There is a BCHL player in 61 of the 62 NCAA Div. 1 programs, including 13 on 2022 Frozen Four national championship runner-up Minnesota State.
“That’s definitely why I chose the BCHL for my junior career,” said Gibson, looking to join the 130 current 2022-23 BCHL players committed to NCAA Div. 1 schools.