It鈥檚 been a rocket of a ride from Rock to Rock to the Rockies.
Newfoundlander Alex Newhook, who came from Canada鈥檚 East Coast island to its West Coast island to play junior for the Victoria Grizzlies, absorbed his first week in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche.
He went from the Q Centre in Colwood to the Staples Center on Friday night to play the Los Angeles Kings in his second NHL game, and all in two years.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited and really proud to be here,鈥� said Newhook, 20, in his video conference with Denver area media.
鈥淚鈥檝e been dreaming about this my whole life. It鈥檚 been great and I鈥檓 trying to take it all in.鈥�
This is a guy who has taken in every new step 鈥� St. John鈥檚 to Victoria to Boston College 鈥� with a sort of natural grace. But this is the biggest step any hockey player can make.
鈥淚t鈥檚 obviously a jump [to the NHL],鈥� said the 2021 world junior championship silver medallist with Canada.
鈥淏ut you鈥檙e playing with better players and smarter players, so in that sense, you are lucky to have high-calibre guys around you to make the jump easier.鈥�
Playing with the best players in the world certainly elevates anybody鈥檚 game.
鈥淚 knew it would be a big step up. It鈥檚 been a good transition,鈥� said Newhook, who was B.C. Hockey League top rookie in his first season in Victoria and BCHL MVP in his second season.
鈥淚鈥檓 trying to learn a lot about the pro game. The guys have been great welcoming me in and giving me pointers. It鈥檚 good to get caught up to speed here. It鈥檚 kind of the same everywhere I鈥檝e been: Just play your game. I just try to be myself out there and hopefully things will go the right way.鈥�
Being thrown right into playing centre is a rarity for an NHL rookie forward and an indication of how highly the Avalanche regard Newhook, who they drafted out of Victoria 16th overall in the first round of the 2019 NHL draft. He had just eight games of minor-pro prep time in the AHL. But with five goals and nine points in those eight games for the Colorado Eagles, the parent Avalanche didn鈥檛 need any more convincing now was the time and centre was the position.
鈥淚鈥檝e played wing in past, but definitely more centre the past few years,鈥� said Newhook.
鈥淚 can play any position but feel more comfortable stepping in having just played that [centre] recently. Hopefully, it鈥檚 easier just to step in and be in my natural position.鈥�
Newhook is the latest Grizzlies/Salsa player from the BCHL franchise to make the NHL, following in the skate grooves of Jamie and Jordie Benn, Tyler Bozak and Matt Pettinger.