Grizzlies 2-6 Caps in Season Opener

Not the start the Grizzlies where looking for as a disorganized display allowed them to be well beaten by a Cowichan team that was fast, efficent and won in an all around team effort.

1st period : Caps came out buzzing with confidence around the Grizzlies goal early on. Slick passing and a well thought out move would allow the pacey Steve Iacobellis to score early on goalie Jamie Tucker. The Grizz would collect themselves and after a little pressure and nice passing movement from Lawson and Colantone found Gehl in space where he beat Caps goalie Derek Dun.
The Caps would start to take control of the neutral zone where the Grizzlies where still trying to find there feet and held onto the 1-1 scoreline at the end of the first. Shots on goal where 9 a piece.

2nd period: Is where the wheels fell off the Grizzlies bus as two Caps power plays would really put the Grizz under the gun. The top two lines from the Caps including Gannon, Grant, Iacobellis, Matt Brown, Charles and Stephens along with help from the rearguard in Muto and Paterson would see two powerplay goals from Grant and the ever dangerous Gannon. The Grizzies looked in disarray on the PK which will hopefully be worked out and soon. Allowing the Caps to much time and space wouldn't help the Grizzlies cause as a third caps goal of the period and forth of the games courtesy of a shorthanded marker by that fomer Penticton Vee, Iacobellis(again), would really make it an uphill battle . Wes Myron, who was Victoria best player on the night would bring the Grizzlies back into towards the end of the period with Victoria's second ,but, still trailing by two.

3rd period: Started much the way the second did, with the Caps looked determined and aggresive going forward with Gannon adding a fifth for the Caps with his second goal. Tucker, would make a few good stops to keep the score down,but, again not a great game by his standards. Goal number six was a gem from the Caps, seeing Muto move the puck from his own zone weave in and out of a couple of Grizz players and pin point a pass to Matt Brown, who beat Tucker on the odd man rush for the Caps sixth of the night. The Grizzlies did have some sustained pressure towards the end of the third ,however, couldn't seem to get anything in the way of production going.

Game thoughts - Game one of the season means, lets keep our finger of the panic switch for the moment. However, the Grizzlies had trouble in all areas tonight from the PP/PK, game plan going forward, being able to string more than three of four passes together a time and simply giving the Caps to much time/space on the puck. The Grizz not for the lack of trying did try and stay in the game,but, had problems competing against a more experianced Caps line up. The Caps have a number of  quality BCHL forwards, like Brown, Gannon, Mistral, Iacobellis, Charles and Macdonald. Along with Dmen who like to jump up into forward frey such as Muto, Paterson, Robak and Monk should make for a Caps team, who look like they have thier strongest squad for a couple of seasons

Stand outs for Victoria -
Wes Myron - Looked at times to inject spark into the Grizzlies when he was on the ice and took his goal well. Myron's skill set and nose for goal will hopefully inspire a bit more offence for the Grizzlies tomorrow night.

Stand outs for Cowichan-
David Gannon - scored two and linked up well with his line mates tonight. Looks good on the PP and was a thorn in the Grizz side all night.
Steve Iacobellis -  Looks like a slick pick up from the Vees and with his quickness and eye for goal looks like putting to rest at least a little, the Travis St.Denis no show in Duncan
Vinny Muto - Strong, quick aggresive D-man who likes to get forward and chipped in with three assists.

Line Ups -----------------------------Victoria----------------------------------

Line 1. Kasier - Myron - Murphy
Line 2. Colantone - Lawson - Gehl
Line 3. Holland - Godinho - Hansen
Line 4. Renner - Fares - Walchuk

Dmen 1. Bilous - Robertson
           2. Pears - Buchanen
          3. Dejong - Pernowski

Goal - Tucker-Starter    -     Rockafellow -Backup



Line Ups----------------------------Caps-----------------------

Line 1. Gannon - Brown - Charles
Line 2. Stephens - Iacobellis - Mistral
Line 3. Grant - Cooper - Pope
Line 4. Rota - MacDonald - Bruce

Dmen 1. Robak-Paterson
           2. Monk-Everson
           3.Muto-Cordier

Goal - Dun-Starter        - Doan-Back up

Three Stars of the Game 1- Gannon
                                        2- Myron
                                        3- Iacobellis

Attendence - 1148