Sixteen-year-old players in junior hockey are usually reserved for minor roles, but Victoria Grizzlies defenceman Jacson Alexander isn’t an ordinary 16-year-old. He’s set to enter the BCHL as an elite player from the beginning, and he’s already drawing comparisons to one of the best Victoria born players in the NHL. Tyler Bennett has the story.
Born and raised in Esquimalt, 16-year-old defenceman Jacson Alexander grew up both playing at the Q Centre and watching the Victoria Grizzlies play.
“Yeah I played here [at the Q Centre] lots,” Jacson says, “I watched a lot of hockey here and, it’s pretty cool watching all the guys growing up, all the older players, it’s pretty cool to be playing in this rink now.”
Jacson comes to the Victoria Grizzlies after turning down the opportunity to play in the WHL. Alexander is a first round pick (17th overall) by the Swift Current Broncos, but instead chose to commit to the University of Denver for the 2019-2020 season, and play in the BCHL.
“I just thought it was the best thing for me, after everything, talking to people, yeah I just think it’s the best decision for me.”
And the Victoria Grizzlies couldn’t be any happier.
“He’s a guy that’s going to walk in and be a quality, elite player in our league at his age,” Grizzlies head coach Craig Didmon says, “We’re very fortunate to have him, and whether he’ll go the Western League route or the College route down the road, we don’t know, so we’re certainly going to do our job while he’s here.”
While he’s still yet to play his first BCHL game, Alexander is already drawing comparisons to another Victoria born defenceman, Tyson Barrie.
“He’s pretty good,” Jacson says with a grin, “I’ve skated with him a couple times this summer, and yeah, he’s pretty unreal, hopefully, one day I can turn out like that.”
“They both are above and beyond the other players in their category,” Didmon says, I was kinda saying that a year ago when I first saw [Jacson] play, all he has to do now is work hard, and stay focused on the game, and true to himself, and he should have those types of opportunities.”
While the future is uncertain after this season for Alexander and the Grizzlies, for now, Jacson is focused on leading the Grizzlies to their first Fred Page Cup championship in seventeen years.
Tyler Bennett
