Presented by Chevrolet.
In the weeks leading up to the start of the 2024-25 season, we will go team-by-team to profile new players entering the league, as well as offseason acquisitions through trades. We speak with the coach/GM of each team to get their thoughts on the new crop of players.
Next up is the Victoria Grizzlies.
+++
The Victoria Grizzlies finished fourth in the Coastal Conference standings in 2023-24 with a record of 29-22-1-2. They defeated the Nanaimo Clippers in five games in the first round of the playoffs before bowing out to the eventual league champion Surrey Eagles in six games of Round 2.
Now the team is looking to build off of their strong showing and have made several additions to their roster ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. We catch up with head coach and general manager Rylan Ferster to discuss the changes.
New recruits
Tom Molson (2005, F)
Hometown: Montreal, Que.- Previous team: Deerfield Academy (USHS-Prep)
- College commitment: Yale University
Molson was the captain at Deerfield Academy last year and led the team in scoring with 43 points in 26 games. He also split time with the Avon Regals 18U program and totaled 51 points in 34 games across all competition. He is the son of Montreal Canadiens owner, president and CEO Geoff Molson.
Ferster’s scouting report:
“He comes in with lots of skill and really good vision and skating. We expect him to contribute offensively for us.”
Daniil Dolzhenko (2004, D)
Hometown: Omsk, Russia- Previous team: Wisconsin Windigo (NAHL)
- College commitment: UMass-Lowell
Dolzhenko was born in Russia, but has been playing hockey in North America for a number of years. He played in the North American Hockey League the past three seasons and put up 22 points in 53 games for Wisconsin in 2023-24.
Ferster’s scouting report:
“He’s a 20-year-old veteran defenceman who should log a lot of minutes for us. We expect him to have the ability to play in all situations at the end of the period, at the end of the game and be that type of reliable player.”
Jordan Ramsay (2007, F)
Hometown: Victoria, B.C.- Previous team: Pacific Coast Academy Prep (CSSHL U18)
Ramsay played the previous four seasons in the Pacific Coast Academy system and the last two with their under-18 team. In 2023-24, he was their second leading scorer with 48 points in 29 games, while his 18 goals also ranked second on the team.
Ferster’s scouting report:
“He’s a young, speedy forward – a local guy who I was able to watch a lot of. I like his tenacity and how he plays. He goes and gets pucks. I like his speed as well.”
Finn Kallay (2007, F)
Hometown: St. Albert, Alta.- Previous team: Northern Alberta Xtreme Prep (CSSHL U18)
Kallay was over a point per game in 2023-24, finishing with a total of 31 in 30 games on 11 goals and 20 assists.
Ferster’s scouting report:
“He’s an interesting player and was, for me, one of the best players on a very good NAX team last year. He’s a complete 200-foot guy who plays hard in all areas. I think he’s going to be a really good all-around player for us.”
Jason Cai (2005, G)
Hometown: Basking Ridge, N.J.- Previous team: New Jersey Rockets (18U AAA)
Cai suited up for 50 league games at the 18U level last season and posted a .915 save percentage and a 2.59 goals-against average with a record of 36-13-0.
Ferster’s scouting report:
“The biggest thing with goalies is that they ultimately have to be able to win some games for us. We have two goalies expected to play throughout the year and he’s going to come in and be expected to win some games.”
Nathan Taylor (2006, F)
Hometown: Langley, B.C.- Previous team: Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
In his rookie season in the BCHL with Merritt, Taylor contributed seven goals, four assists and 11 points in 43 games.
Ferster’s scouting report:
“He can skate and he can shoot. He’s a veteran, a bigger body, and we expect him to be able to play in all situations and in all 200 feet of the rink. He’s a guy that we really liked. We really went after him hard.”
Carter Hynes (2006, D)
Hometown: St. John’s, N.L.- Previous team: Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL)
Hynes came up through the Notre Dame Hounds system and made his full-time debut in junior hockey last year in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) where he put up 24 points in 56 games and was two off the team lead in points from the back end.
Ferster’s scouting report:
“He’s a young player with a big presence at 6-foot-6. He’s definitely got some upside.”
Vincent Palmarin (2005, D)
Hometown: Wilcox, Sask.- Previous team: Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL)
Palmarin also played for Notre Dame in the SJHL the past two years and totaled a combined 34 points in 78 games.
Ferster’s scouting report:
“He’s a veteran coming in who is going to have to play in all situations and log those 200-foot quality minutes for us.”
Dan D’Alessandro (2006, D)
Hometown: Essex Fells, N.J.- Previous teams: Long Island Gulls (18U AAA)
- College commitment: Princeton University
D’Alessandro played for Long Island the previous three years and was captain of the 18U team last year. The year prior, he was captain of his 16U team.
Ferster’s scouting report:
“He’s a smooth-skating, mobile defenceman. We’re expecting him to play some power-play minutes for us.”
Dennison Monahan (2006, D)
Hometown: Norwell, Mass.- Previous team: Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
Monahan suited up for eight games with Merritt last year. The year before, he had eight points in 40 games for Lovell Academy’s 16U team.
Ferster’s scouting report:
“He’s another kid with really good size who I could see as more of a shut-down type of guy. He’s going to have to play some quality minutes for us.”
Acquired via trade
Stone Rolston (2005, F)
Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, Mich.- Previous team: Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)
The son of former NHLer Brian Rolston, Stone played his rookie season in the BCHL with Chilliwack last year where he scored 13 goals and added four assists for 17 points in 49 games.
Ferster’s scouting report:
“He’s a goal scorer. He’s going to come in and be a power forward for us and hopefully be able to play 200 feet again. He’s a veteran and bringing in someone like that is good for us.”
Photo credits: Dan Hickling (Molson, D’Alessandro), CSSHL (Ramsay, Kallay), Liz Wolter (Taylor), Island Images (Rolston)
