But, the scoreline doesn't say it all. The Grizzlies who where without Kaiser, Myron, Pernerowski and Walchuk as well as a scary start to the game, which saw Jamie Tucker taken away in an ambulance after the first minute of the 1st period; courtesy of a nasty hit from Caps forward Matt Brown. This left Jamie motionless on the ice for quite sometime.
Jamie, was taken to Duncan Hospital and is expected to be alright,but, didn't deserve the shot that Brown gave him, who was given a game misconduct for that act.
Garrett Rockafellow was thrust into action at that point.
Victoria, welcomed back Kevin Woodyatt from the DL, who's return was timely considering the lack of bodies in the defensive ranks right now. Jaden Schmisser, would AP again and has looked impressive in Grizzlies colours in each appearance. Dayne Ellison a call up from the Junior B Kerry park Islanders, would make his first AP appearance for the Grizzlies tonight as well.
Onto the game, which saw Victoria stun the Caps early and often in the first period. After the Grizzlies failed to take advantage of the 5 minute major penalty for the hit on Tucker, they found themselves on the PK on the 8 minute mark. The speedy and very effective Coltyn Hansen, would scream down the ice unassisted and the team shorthanded, to beat Derek Dun to put the visitors up 1-0 nothing.
With the fire in the Grizzlies bellies, 3 minutes later, a slap shot from Schmisser would be tapped in by Myles Powell to make it 2-0 Grizzlies. Powell, with his speed and skill has been a welcomed roster addition. Victoria, weren't close to be finished in the first yet, as a Caps team in disarray would be 3-0 behind as some nice work from Collins and Ten Vaanholt, would set up Wade Murphy for his for 22nd goal of the season. The Caps powerplay would fall flat again in the last minute of the first, as Moran would beat Derek Dun again, for a 4-0 Grizzlies lead and the second shorthanded goal of the game.
From the broadcast a superb first period from Victoria, who where I'm sure fired up after what had happened to Tucker.
Rockafellow, and the Grizzlies would absorb quite a bit of Caps pressure in the 2nd, with Garrett and the boys keeping the Caps at bay, would still lead 4-0 going into the third period
The Caps, who had recently traded for one of the more prolific goalscorers in the BCHL in the last two seasons, Richard Vanderhoek, looked lively, but, couldn't get the Caps on the scoresheet.
The Grizzlies wouldn't back down in the third and where rewarded with a 5th goal from Mike Collins. Collins, now has 5 points in six games since coming back home from the OCN Blizzard(even sounds cold doesn't it). Mike, has looked impressive since making his debut in the BCHL two weeks ago.
Bilious and Proulx would disagree on various things hockey related and would drop the gloves at the end of the third(1 game suspensions for that I think) and Cam Lawson picked up a knock during the game.
However, the Grizzlies would leave Duncan with the 5-0 victory and one of their best road wins of the season. Equally impressive, was Garrett Rockafellow picking up his first shutout of the season, stopping all 30 Caps shot. Even with a number of injuries and no new Captain named as of yet, the boys should take a lot of confidence this result.
This win keeps the Express and Grizzlies tied for forth place as the season continues to heat up with the prize of finishing in the top 4 to make the playoffs, still very much at stake.
From Scott Didmon's broadcast, the WHL player the Grizzlies acquired in the Sean Robertson trade, Zach McPhee, may be in Victoria after the Xmas break. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Credit to the Caps, for there $5.00 game tickets tonight. A nice touch and great timing for the fans with Xmas coming up soon. Something for the Grizzlies to think about!!!!
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