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Same old feeling as Victoria Grizzlies face Alberni Valley Bulldogs

It was déjà vu for the Victoria Grizzlies on Saturday night at Weyerhaeuser Arena.

It was déjà vu for the Victoria Grizzlies on Saturday night at Weyerhaeuser Arena. For the second straight night, the Grizzlies jumped out to a lead, but for the second straight night the Alberni Valley Bulldogs fought back and, at press time, the two teams were tied 1-1 in overtime.

Grizzlies starting netminder Kurtis Chapman didn’t allow a goal, helping his team earn at least a point in front of 1,500 fans on Pink in the Rink Night in Port Alberni.

The 20-year-old Chapman was having another strong game, helping his Grizzlies get out to a 1-0 lead late into the second period when his hand was cut by a skate during a collision with a Bulldogs forward. After a three-minute stint to repair the damage, Chapman returned to help the Grizzlies try to rebound from a 5-3 loss to the Bulldogs the night before at The Q Centre.

After a Jeremy Bucheler goal in the first period gave the Grizzlies the lead, Bulldogs forward Ryan Miotto beat Grizzlies backup Keenan Rancier with the just the second shot Rancier faced after coming in cold. Rancier stopped four of five shots in three minutes of work. After regulation time, Chapman had 38 saves, while fellow 20-year-old John Hawthorne stopped 33 shots in the Alberni goal.

Victoria came into the game winless in two games after a six-game winning streak, while the Bulldogs were riding a two-game win streak.

The Grizzlies, who were 5-3 on the road this season, will have another trip up Island for their next game, taking on the Clippers on Wednesday night in Nanaimo. They’ll then return home for a Friday contest against the Powell River Kings at The Q Centre.