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Glacier Kings star Finn Withey impresses in BCHL debut

The Yetis’ 2017-18 MVP notched two points in two games for the Victoria Grizzlies
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Comox Valley Glacier Kings forward Finn Withey has been making a name for himself in the provincial capital these past few days.

For the last week, Withey has been suiting up as an affiliate player for the Victoria Grizzlies in the B.C. Hockey League. The 18-year-old Whistler native picked up an assist and a goal in his first two Junior A games.

In his Junior A debut on Feb. 22, Withey notched an assist in a 4-2 win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.

He picked up his first BCHL goal just three days later, scoring in the first period en route to a 4-3 double-overtime win over the Surrey Eagles on Feb. 25.

“The puck went out to the point and I was in the far corner, so I cut across. [Matt Doran] took a shot, there was a rebound and I shot it top-shelf,” said Withey.

The win clinched first place for the Grizzlies in the BCHL Island Division for the second consecutive regular season.

Grizzlies head coach Craig Didmon said the Comox Valley stalwart showed a lot of confidence in his first games in the BCHL.

“I know he was ‘the guy’ for Comox this year,” said Didmon. “When someone gets to be a top player on a team, they come in and they have a similar level of confidence. That’s what I thought he did well — play with a lot of confidence.”

The Grizzlies’ playoff run will begin against the fourth-placed Bulldogs this Friday. Due to their first-place finish in the Island Division, Victoria will have home ice advantage throughout their playoff run.

“He’s going to stick around and finish the season off with us,” said Didmon.

Read More: Two Glacier Kings players selected for VIJHL Prospects Game

Withey, who was the Glacier Kings’ MVP and top scorer in 2017-18, collected 19 goals and 22 assists in 48 games this season in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.

In two full seasons of Junior B play, Withey managed 36 goals and 50 assists in 87 games for the Glacier Kings — a point per game, on average.

His scoring ability was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal season for the Glacier Kings this year. The Yetis ended the 2017-18 season in last place in the VIJHL North Division, missing out on the playoffs with a 4-43-0-1 record. (2-22-0-0 at home). The Glacier Kings failed to beat any of the other North Division teams this year.

The Yetis’ season came to an end on Feb. 17 with a 7-2 home loss to the Victoria Cougars. The loss meant the Glacier Kings ended the season on a 17-game losing streak.

Withey was also one of two Glacier Kings players to feature in the 2018 VIJHL Prospects Game, alongside defenceman Mauro D’Alessandro.