The Revelstoke Grizzlies are poised to take on the second round of the Kootenay International Hockey League on Friday against the Kamloops Storm after a season that brought them as close to the league victory as mathematically possible.
In the 44-game regular season, the Grizzlies held a record of 34 wins, 8 losses, with one shootout loss and one overtime loss. The record earned the Grizzlies an impressive 70 points over the season, which earned them the division title for the Doug Birks Division. The Grizzlies fell one point short of the league title to the Princeton Posse, but with their division performance, Grizzlies players and coaches were honoured with awards.
Revelstoke Grizzlies head coach, Jiri Novak, was recognized as Coach of the Year for the Doug Birks division, but Novak quickly pointed a finger to the team for the award.
“I talked to the guys — it’s just basically a credit for them because I couldn’t be able to win that award without them,” said Novak.
For his part, Grizzlies’ goaltender, Jozef Kuchaslo, had a similarly humble comment on his own divisional goaltending award.
“Obviously it’s an individual award, but it’s more a testament to how good we are defensively and how easy the boys make it for me every night,” said Kuchaslo.
Kuchaslo’s efforts between the pipes helped lead the Grizzlies to the lowest goals against in the league, with just 83 goals against the Grizzlies. His strong season also helped to punch his ticket to college in the United States, where Kuchaslo recently announced a commitment to the Drury University Men’s Ice Hockey team in Springfield, Mo.
🚨COMMITMENT ALERT🚨
— Revelstoke Grizzlies (@RevelstokeGriz1) March 7, 2024
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to #31 Jozef Kuchaslo on your commitment to the Drury University( @DU_IceHockey ) ACHA for the 2024-25 season!
Way to go Joe !!! We are all proud of you 👏 #RevelstokeGrizzlies #KIJHL #DruryUniversity #BeAGrizzly #GrizzliesFuture pic.twitter.com/HEQpqOJ25K
Part of the defensive unit that’s helped keep the shots low for Kuchaslo in net was a mid-season transfer from the Chase Heat, Mikkel Hrechka, whose defensive efforts were recognized by the Doug Birks Division, earning him defenceman of the season.
“It’s pretty cool to have my last year and get an award like that, that’s quite an accomplishment,” said Hrechka.
Changing teams during the season can be tough, but Hrechka said the move was the right decision at the right time.
“It’s something that I’ve been really grateful for, actually. It was an opportunity to move at the right time, I think, and get a chance to join a team and make a difference as a 20-year-old,” he said.
In Hrechka’s 39 games played during the regular season, he contributed 15 goals and 19 assists. The defenceman said that with the regular season behind him, his game won’t change much in the playoffs, with a priority of keeping things simple.
“Making sure bodies don’t get in front of the net, and being more physical, chipping pucks out, not taking as many chances,” he said.
Heading into the playoffs, Kuchaslo said it may be a different group than last year, but they’re still feeling confident as they look ahead to the second series.
“This year is a little younger. There was a bit of a learning curve but overall the boys are really solid. They’ve impressed me this year and I think we’re in just as good if not better a spot this year,” said Kuchaslo.
The Grizzlies’ dominance in the first series was an especially important win as the team had to bounce back from a bitterly close race for the President’s Cup for the league victory.
Battling in the final game against the Sicamous Eagles in Sicamous, the Grizzlies lost in a shootout to the Eagles, earning them one point. At the same time of Revelstoke’s final game, their league rivals, the Princeton Posse, crushed the Summerland Steam in an authoritative 9–1 victory.
Princeton’s win gave them two points to Revelstoke’s one, leap frogging the Posse over the Grizzlies for the league title with only one point between the two.
Novak applauded the team for their resilience in the face of the disappointing loss.
“Just have to give them the credit. You know, some teams can be affected if they didn’t work, but they just kinda turn the switch and they were just ready for the playoffs,” he said.
Novak added that it’s been his pleasure to coach the team. Novak also thanked local fans for making the home atmosphere an iconic feature of the league and the team.
“Against Chase, they were basically our seventh player,” he said.
The Revelstoke Grizzlies will play the first game of their second series in the playoffs on Friday, March 8, against the Kamloops Storm in Revelstoke.
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