There is a reason they play the song Brick House by the Commodores on the PA at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in honour of Griffen Outhouse.
The Victoria Royals goaltender is just that. And he proved Saturday night that he can dish out blocker-hand blows as well as he can take care of incoming pucks. The feisty Victoria goaltender was named first star in a 2-1 Royals victory over the defending WHL-champion Seattle Thunderbirds, despite Victoria being outshot 37-18.
The third period began with a general melée after a collision in the crease between Outhouse and lanky Seattle defenceman Austin Strand, to which Outhouse responded by flaying on Strand with his blocker. The Thunderbird rearguard received a five-minute major and game misconduct, while Outhouse was tagged with a roughing minor, for which he received a loud ovation by the 5,191 fans in the Memorial Centre. Strand appeared to be at least nudged into Outhouse by the trailing Victoria defender Kaid Oliver.
“Stuff happens in the crease … it’s hockey,” said Outhouse.
“I have to stand up for myself.”
Which is something Outhouse has being doing with regularity this season. He was also named the first star on Friday as Victoria was outshot 46-23 in a 4-3 win over the Thunderbirds.
“There was a lot of character displayed and the guys dug down and found a way to win,” said Victoria coach Dan Price, following the victory on Saturday.
Royals defenceman Jared Freadrich, from the point, scored on the ensuing Victoria power play after the Strand major, at 2:49 of the third period, to make it 2-0. Concurrent penalties to Victoria’s Tyler Soy and Dante Hannoun led to a Seattle power-play goal by Noah Philp at 10:39.
Victoria was outshot 16-3 in the first period, but led 1-0 on a goal by rookie checking-forward Dino Kambeitz. The T-Birds (11-11-2) could have guessed then it was going to be one of those nights for them.
The Royals (18-8-1) again had to contend with injuries to a trio of potent players. Missing Saturday was veteran defenceman Ralph Jarratt, out for his sixth game, and blueliner and third-round Montreal Canadiens draft pick Scott Walford and 18 goal-scorer Regan Nagy for a second game. It forced the call-up of 16-year-old defenceman Remy Aquilon from Okanagan Rockets of the B.C. Major Midget League, who acquitted himself well in his first two career WHL games under trying conditions on the depleted Victoria blueline.
Royals forward Soy, held point-less for a second straight night, remained stranded one point adrift of the all-time franchise record for most career points with 263 over 279 games. The record is held by Brandon Magee, now in U Sports with the University of Alberta Golden Bears, who amassed 264 points over 318 games.
The Royals now embark on a swing through the Eastern Conference beginning Tuesday in Moose Jaw and continuing Wednesday in Swift Current, Friday in Medicine Hat and next Saturday in Lethbridge.
