Oliver Auyeung-Ashton — and Owen Bresson for a minute and a half — helped the Victoria Grizzlies start the post-Christmas portion of their B.C. Hockey League schedule with a victory.
Auyeung-Ashton made 46 saves to record his second shutout of the season as the Grizzlies downed the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 2-0 at The Q Centre in the first game after the holiday break for both teams.
Auyeung-Ashton, who recently committed to NCAA Div. 1 school Colgate, got a little help from Bresson as the rookie netminder had to play the first 1:35 of the third period, making one save, while Auyeung-Ashton had an equipment problem.
Veteran Luc Pelletier got the Grizzlies’ offence started when he pounced on a turnover midway through the first period and beat Bulldogs goaltender Callum Tung for the Princeton University-commit’s third goal in his past two games. Landon Mackie added to the Grizzlies’ count when he banged home a rebound midway through the second period.
Tung finished with 29 saves.
The Grizzlies (17-11-0-1) have this weekend off and don’t return to action until next Friday when they host the Powell River Kings at The Q Centre.
The Bulldogs (16-13-0-0) are back in action tonight in Port Alberni when they host the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Grizzlies were without defenceman Richard Baran who is playing for Slovakia at the world junior hockey championship in Sweden.
