The Victoria Grizzlies got the start they wanted against the Clippers in Nanaimo on Friday night, they just couldn’t finish it off.
The Grizzlies jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the game at Frank Crane Arena was seven minutes old, but then Willyam Gendron found another gear for the Clippers and helped Nanaimo score four times in the second period en route to a 5-2 victory.
Gendron, who finished with a four-point night, set up Noah Alvarez for the first Clippers goal with just 20 seconds left in the opening period, and the Clippers were on their way. Mike Murtagh beat Oliver Auyeung-Ashton just 1:38 into the second period to draw Nanaimo even. Luke Buss, Gendron and Murtagh added goals in the middle frame as the home team took control.
Auyeung-Ashton made 30 saves in a losing cause, while Tyler Hodges picked up the win in the Clippers’ net making 26 saves.
The Grizzlies fall to 12-5 on the season, while the Clippers improve to 7-7-2.
The Grizzlies now get today off before playing host to the Langley Rivermen on Sunday afternoon at The Q Centre.
The Clippers travel to Port Alberni today to face the Bulldogs.
LOOSE PUCKS: Forward Tim Busconi is the latest Grizzlies player to commit to an NCAA scholarship as he signed a letter of intent this week to play for Ivy League school Dartmouth College. The 19-year-old Busconi is in his second season in Victoria.
