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Victoria Grizzlies roll over Capitals in Cowichan

The Victoria Grizzlies notched a 5-0 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Friday night at the Cowichan Community Centre.
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The Victoria Grizzlies logo. DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST

The Victoria Grizzlies got their Family Weekend started on the right foot, even if parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters had to go over the Malahat to see the Grizzlies snap a two-game losing skid.

Goals a minute apart midway through the second period by Olivier Picard and Max Donohoe broke open a scoreless game and helped pave the way for a 5-0 Grizzlies victory over the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Friday night at the Cowichan Community Centre.

After back-to-back home losses to Chilliwack and Surrey, the Grizzlies stymied the Capitals at every turn and when Cowichan did create scoring chances, rookie netminder Oliver Auyeung-Ashton was there to shut the door. Auyeung-Ashton made 30 saves for his second shutout of the season and the 17-year-old from Coquitlam has suddenly cemented himself as Victoria’s No. 1 goaltender. Heading into Friday’s game, Auyeung-Ashton led the B.C. Hockey League in goals-against average at 1.62 and save-percentage at .950.

Donohoe added his second of the season three minutes into the third period, Luc Pelletier chipped in an empty-netter and Picard added a late one to round out the scoring as the Grizzlies improved their record to 6-5-2-1. Lukas Renauld made 42 saves in a losing cause for the Capitals who fall to 4-9 on the season.

The Grizzlies now return home to The Q Centre for a pair of weekend games Saturday night against the Coastal Conference-leading Nanaimo Clippers and Sunday afternoon against the Trail Smoke Eaters.

LOOSE PUCKS: After this weekend the Grizzlies begin a stretch of five straight games on the road beginning Friday night at the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee against the Wild. … Twenty-year-old Grizzlies winger Owen Bohn secured an NCAA Div. 1 scholarship this week to Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

bdrewry@timescolonist.com