VICTORIA 3
RED BULL SALZBURG 1
Team Red Bull Salzburg could have used a blast or two of the popular energy drink to start, not to mention to finish.
The touring Austrian U-20 team came out flat in the first 15 minutes against the Victoria Grizzlies in the B.C. Hockey League’s first international exhibition game since Dec. 30, 2007.
On Wednesday, the Grizzlies looked like the team that overloaded on Red Bull in a 3-1 victory over the Austrian side before a crowd of about 500 at The Q Centre. With tickets tabbed at $20 a head, it lacked the support that Penticton (at $5) and Vernon ($7) managed last week.
The Vees drew 1,673 fans, while Vernon attracted 1,277.
Red Bull Salzburg concluded its four-game tour of BCHL arenas with a 2-2 record that included a 6-1 loss to the Vees and 8-6 and 6-4 victories in West Kelowna and Vernon, respectively.
“That’s too bad we weren’t at our best tonight,” Salzburg goalie coach Santeri Hilli said.
But they were thrilled with the trip. “It’s awesome. It’s been a great experience for us. We go home [today], we wanted to win, for sure. We wanted to finish strong,” said Austrian captain Daniel Jakubitzka.
“It’s been different with smaller rinks here. We have less time, but we seem to be OK with it now,” he said of adjusting to the Canadian game. “For sure, it is quicker. There is more hits. In Austria we don’t finish every hit, like here where you do. It was different the first game, but then we were good with it.
“It’s awesome like this, as long as there are not penalties every time,” Jakubitzka added of the systematic changes on ice.
The 19-year-old had previously ventured to Canada to tournaments in Toronto when he was 17.
“You see new faces, new arenas, new teams. Everyone has welcomed us. Great hosts, great hotels,” he said of the experience, which included a stay at Westin Bear Mountain, the game sponsor. “We were excited to come to the Island.”
Mitchell Barker opened up the scoring for the Grizzlies at 11:01 of the first period as the hosts dictated play early.
Red Bull Salzburg found its legs, closing the shot total to 12-12 after the opening 20 minutes and tied it up at 12:35 of the second as Philipp Lindner beat goalie Mitchel Benson up high. The visitors had a 24-17 shot advantage after two periods, but Nick Guiney tallied late in the second for Victoria. Cole Pickup then added a short-handed goal for insurance at 3:08 of the third.
“It was good. It was different playing a team from Europe. I think our style of play wore them down,” said Guiney, who collected the game-winner. “It’s always nice to score. It’s even better keeping the streak alive even though it’s not a regular-season game.”
The Grizzlies, on a six-game regular-season win streak, get back at it Friday night in Nanaimo against the Island Division-leading Clippers.
mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com
Twitter.com/tc_vicsports
