Keenan Rancier is going to want to forget his first B.C. Hockey League start between the pipes for the Victoria Grizzlies.
The 18-year-old rookie made his first appearance of the season on Friday at the Bauer BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack, but he was beaten before he even broke a sweat, 25 seconds in by Justin Wilson, and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks never looked back, beating the Grizzlies 6-3 to leave the Grizzlies winless in their two Showcase games.
Rancier lasted only one period, replaced by veteran Kurtis Chapman to start the second period with the Grizzlies trailing 3-2.
But Chapman would fare no better, beaten by Matthew Verboon just 1:05 into the second period to put the Silverbacks up 4-2.
The Grizzlies got first-period markers from Marty Westhaver and Jake Veilleux. And when Charlie Campbell converted a nice feed from his brother Alex to cut the Silverbacks’ lead to 4-3, the Grizzlies, who lost 2-1 to Merritt the night before, started to carry the play. But with four minutes to go in the second, Wilson tallied again to send Salmon Arm to their second win of the early season. Trevor Adams added an empty-netter with 1:45 to play in the third.
The loss drops the Grizzlies’ record to 2-3.
Rancier finished with 15 saves in 20 minutes of work, while Chapman turned aside 21 shots. Ethan Langenegger went the distance for Salmon Arm, making 34 saves.
The Grizzlies now return home to prepare for a trip to Nanaimo on Sunday to take on the Clippers. The Clippers were beaten 4-2 by the West Kelowna Warriors on Friday at the Showcase.
LOOSE PUCKS: Following the trip to Nanaimo on Sunday, the Grizzlies are back out on the road Wednesday when they head to the Island Savings Centre in Duncan to take on the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
Twitter.com/tc_vicsports
