VICTORIA 5 ALBERNI VALLEY 4
The tenuous grip on first place in the B.C. Hockey League's Island Division almost slipped through the hands of the Victoria Grizzlies on Friday night.
The Grizzlies used not one, but two late goals to pull out an incredible 5-4 double-overtime victory over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs at Bear Mountain Arena, maintaining top spot in the division.
Victoria is one point up on the Nanaimo Clippers who they will face tonight up Island. Alberni is just three points back of Victoria as well.
"We want to stay right there in first," said Grizzlies general manager and head coach Bill Bestwick. "There are three teams working really hard for top spot."
The Grizzlies were rewarded for their efforts in a strong third period in which they out-shot the Bulldogs 21-6, bouncing back from 3-1 and 4-3 deficits.
Myles Fitzgerald's second goal of the game, with just 3.6 seconds left in the second extra period, gave the hosts the victory before an announced crowd of 1,245.
Blake Thompson's power-play goal with just 39.3 seconds left in the third period - and with goalie Brady Rouleau pulled for an extra attacker - sent the game into extra sessions.
It was a thriller for the fans, not to mention the coach.
"Absolutely it was. Of course we don't want to give up four goals. Three is our target," said Bestwick, who was elated to grab the two points.
Brett Hartskamp, shorthanded on a perfect two-on-one with David Mazurek, and Stefan Nicholishen also scored for Victoria in the pivotal third.
Lars Hespo, Tryg Strand, Mitch Crisanti and Hunter Stewart had the goals for the Bulldogs, who led 1-0 after one period and 3-1 after 40 minutes.
The Grizzlies were without five regulars as Myles Powell, Chase Kaiser, Justin Coachman, David Walchuk and captain Zach Urban -- who was suspended a game for his second instigator penalty - sat out.
Victoria brought in Brody Coulter, Sam Rice and Brandon Egli from the Junior B Cougars.
The Grizzlies improve to 14-7-0-1 while the Bulldogs slip to 11-9-0-4. Nanaimo is 13-7-0-2.
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