VICTORIA 3
COWICHAN 3
Most B.C. Hockey League teams go three seasons before they get three ties. The Victoria Grizzlies have three ties in their first 14 games.
The Grizzlies, missing several regulars, jumped out to a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes at the Island Savings Centre in Duncan, then couldn’t solve veteran netminder Lane Michasiw the rest of the way and settled for a 3-3 double-overtime tie.
The single point moves the Grizzlies’ record to a bizarre 7-2-2-3 and they remain atop the B.C. Hockey League’s Island Division standings. The Grizzlies have gone to overtime in six of their past eight games.
After Max Newton beat Grizzlies goaltender Matthew Galajda early in the first period, it was all Grizzlies the rest of the way as they outshot Cowichan 54-26. Veteran Cole Pickup, who this week accepted a scholarship offer to play next season in the NCAA for the University of Nebraska-Omaha, got the Grizzlies’ offence going just 27 seconds into the second period when he netted his team-leading ninth goal of the season. Despite missing veterans Brett Stirling and Nathan Looysen, as well as speedy forward Cory Hatcher to injuries, the Grizzlies kept coming in waves.
Lucas Clark and Tyler Welsh put the Grizzlies up 3-1 after the second but the Capitals (7-4-2-1) wouldn’t go away. Rhett Kingston and Ryan Hogg had third-period markers for the host Caps, helping them earn a single point from the home-and-home weekend set.
The Grizzlies’ injury troubles went from bad to worse early in the third period. After hitting the cross bar on a quick rush up the ice, Clark went crashing into the end boards and left the game and did not return. Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon had already called up forward Jordan Guiney from the Westshore Wolves of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League to add fresh legs.
Saturday’s game was the fifth time this season the Grizzlies and Capitals have played. Up next for the Grizzlies are home games on Friday against the Langley Rivermen and Saturday versus the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Nanaimo Clippers ended the Penticton Vees’ nine-game winning streak on Saturday, knocking off the Vees 3-0. The Clippers are now 7-5-1-0 on the season.
