Grbavac closer to realizing goal

By MARK HUNTER
Daily News Sports Reporter
Cole Grbavac came into Kamloops Blazers training camp in hopes of “playing
my game” and maybe cracking the WHL team’s roster.
Fighting, it would seem, wasn’t one of the skills highlighted on his resume
heading into camp.
The Blazers brass surely took notice on Tuesday night when, early in the
third period of the Blue-White intrasquad game, Grbavac twice went
toe-to-toe with reigning tough guy Matt Wray — and held his own both times.
When he talks about “my game,” Grbavac, 17, usually doesn’t include dropping
the mitts.
“I’m a power forward, more of a grinder,” said Grbavac, a left winger from
Calgary. “I’m not as much of a finesse player but I like playing around the
net and in the corners.”
Despite the pugilistic prowess he showed Tuesday, Grbavac, at 6-foot-0 and
175 pounds, is a soft-spoken, confident fellow.
The Blazers listed Grbavac (pronounced Gurr-BA-vick) while he was playing
for the midget AAA Calgary Buffaloes last season. The Buffaloes did well,
making it all the way to the Telus Cup Canadian midget championship, where
they finished fourth.
Grbavac dislocated his right shoulder during the tournament, and was feeling
some pain Wednesday as the Blazers did fitness testing at Hillside Stadium
and TRU.
He originally was drafted in the third round, 56th overall, in the 2006
bantam draft by the Portland Winter Hawks. Then, after training camp last
season, the Winter Hawks unceremoniously dropped everyone from that draft
with the exception of their first two picks — Riley Boychuk and Brett
Ponich.
When that door closed, another one opened. Now, Grbavac wants to make the
most of this opportunity.
“I kind of got the short end of the stick (in Portland) but Kamloops picked
me up,” said Grbavac, whose father’s parents emigrated to Lethbridge from
Croatia. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make this team.”
His performance Tuesday — he played well, on top of the scraps with Wray —
should help his cause. The first fight, which Grbavac won, ended when the
linesmen intervened.
The second, which Wray took, lasted a good minute and would have earned a
thumbs-up from Don Cherry.
“My tie-down in the back came undone (in the first fight) and Wray wasn’t
happy about that,” Grbavac said. “He wanted to go again, and I couldn’t turn
him down.”
The Blazers open the WHL exhibition schedule this weekend, with a game
Friday against the Vancouver Giants in Ladner. On Saturday, Kamloops will
play host to the Giants at Interior Savings Centre at 7 p.m.
Grbavac should get a chance to pull on the Blazers’ sweater for the first
time in those games. His plan includes using his hands — but not necessarily
to scrap.
“I’m hoping to play a little more offence,” he said. “I haven’t really put
up any points yet. I’ll try to keep my game simple and do the same as all
the other games.”
The Blazers didn’t know what to expect of Grbavac coming in — actually, they
knew nothing about the guy.
His size and game have made him stand out so far.
“He is a player who has what we feel is a strong two-way game,” said
director of player personnel Matt Recchi. “He adds some size to the wing and
plays a really physical, honest game. He has some skill around the net.
“He can contribute offensively, in a physical way and play responsible
defence.”
The Blazers do have plans for Grbavac — they signed him to a standard player
contract on Tuesday.
While that might answer a few of the questions he has right now, it doesn’t
give him any opportunity to relax.
“I’m trying to forget about that,” he said. “It really doesn’t guarantee me
a spot on the team — I’m trying to put it in the back of the my mind.”
JUNIOR JOTTINGS: Spencer Asuchak of Kamloops is one of 20 remaining forwards
with the Tri-City Americans. Asuchak, who will turn 17 on Nov. 22, is a
6-foot-4, 200-pound left-winger. He played for the major midget Thompson
Blazers last season. . . . G Deven Dubyk — not to be confused with
former Blazers G Devan Dubnyk — is in camp with the Moose Jaw Warriors. . .
. Edmonton Oil Kings LW Craig McCallum might be the only married player in
the WHL. The 19-year-old tied the knot with his fiancee, Randi, in Saskatoon
on July 12.
mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca