It’s come down to this: One final day to determine who moves on into the B.C. Hockey League post-season and who goes home to ponder the regular season that was.
With Alberni Valley’s convincing 6-2 victory over the Powell River Kings on Saturday night, the Victoria Grizzlies will need a win in Chilliwack against the Chiefs today at 4 p.m.
Even that might not help as the Kings face the Bulldogs again this afternoon at 2.
A win there would clinch it for Alberni, which is now two points up on the Grizzlies, but Victoria holds the tiebreaker with overall victories.
A Bulldogs loss and a Grizzlies win would get Victoria in.
“It’ll still be up for grabs. We have to win,” Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon said of today’s game. “It might not be in our hands and that’s the disappointing part.”
A 6-2 Grizzlies’ loss to the Kings on Friday set up the wild finish.
“We look at the things that did go right and look at the things that need to be improved on,” said Didmon, who will start Matthew Galajda in goal today.
Goaltending decisions ate away at the coach after Friday’s untimely setback.
After winning eight of 10 games, Galajda went on to lose seven of his next eight, which would leave any coaching staff second guessing and playing hunches. Prior to Friday’s loss, backup Mitchell Benson had won three of his last four appearances, including the 4-0 shutout win in Langley that gave the Grizzlies the chance.
“We might have got in their heads a bit,” Didmon said of the goaltending scenario. “We really thought both guys were worthy of the duty. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. Galajda will get the start.
“He’s been our starter and he’ll get the opportunity. I’m blaming myself because I think I got in their heads a little bit.”
That shutout victory last Sunday in Langley did factor in, but there’s no looking back now though.
“We just hope that the hockey gods are with us and they [the Kings] can sneak out a win against Alberni.
“They’ll probably play some of their affiliated players, but we just have to win Sunday and see what happens,” said Grizzlies defenceman Kevin Massy, who could be playing his final junior game today should Alberni win.
“It was a tough one to swallow [Friday], the most important game of the season and we beat ourselves.
“We just have to hope and pray that Powell River can beat Alberni and we have to get it done against Chilliwack.”
mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com
Twitter/tc_vicsports
