Watching the game last night and a number of the performances on display, you can't help be excited for what the likes of Lawson, Hansen, Gonzales, Bilious, De Jong, McLellan, Holland, Walchuk, Schmeisser, Powell and Chase Kaiser to name some of the players who will from the nucleus of the 2012/13 will have to offer
After watching the performance against the Rivermen, the Grizzlies competed hard and dominated the Rivermen at certain points on Friday night.
1st Period - Would see the Grizzlies come out of the gate strong and within the first minute would see Cam Lawson weave through the Langley defence to set up Kaiser, who would slot it by goalie Kruger after 16 secs, for a 1-0 lead. The Grizzlies would keep the pressure on the R'men out-shooting them and creating chance after chance in the first 20 minutes. As well as the Hansen's, Holland's, Lawson's and Kasier's creating opportunities this would be a good team effort in the first frame with the defence jumping up in the play and the imposing figure of 18 yr old Campbell River Storm, AP David Sprukts creating some chances. The 6'3 Latvian born forward would lay a couple of nice hits and can really skate for big guy.
A well rounded first period would be capped off by one of the guys who keeps the engine room running, Mike Sandor, as he score his 6th goal of the season with an assist from Chase Kaiser to make it a deserved 2-0 Victoria lead going in at the end of the first.
2nd Period - The Rivermen would find there legs in the 2nd period and would turn the tide as Austin Plevy would keep Langley in the contest, as he would score of a deflection to make it 2-1 on the PP seven minutes in. As 2nd periods go, they haven't often been kind to the Grizzlies this season and Langley would further punish the home team through Mario Puskarich who was a thorn in the Grizzlies side all night with his speed and ability to control the game from the neutral zone.
Puskarich, would would level things
3rd Period - The Grizzlies would come out with a more determined approach in the third and Chase Kaiser who has taken has game to another level this season, would score on the powerplay on the rebound after some nice work from McLellan and Schmeisser to tie things up at 3-3.
Both team would turn it up a notch as the period progressed both looking hungry to take both points.
The Grizzlies would regain the lead through a breakaway from Charles Lilles and after a couple of nice moves would beat Kruger. Lilles who has stepped up with a few nice performances lately has put himself on the radar for next season.
Mike Tebbutt a big power forward who can move the puck would bring the visitors level after 14 minutes, to sending the game into a grandstand finish for the last 5 minutes.
The equalising goal didn't really seem to phase the Grizzlies, as an impressive display on the night as in the last minute, the swift footed Myles Powell would pick up a Mark McLellan pass to beat Kruger to send the Grizzlies fans into ecstasy for the 5-4 victory.
This win was special for two things. It was Nick Taylor's first BCHL win and it took the Grizzlies off the bottom of the Coastal Conference to overtake Langley by one point, at this time.
A really classy move from one of the leaders on our team, Stefan Gonzales to secure the game winning puck for Nick Taylor at the end. Well done Nick and good job Gonzo!!!!!!
Grizz Thoughts - Good solid, hard fought victory tonight and another well rounded team effort.
If these end of season performances mean anything, it's that there is a very good group of players who have shown that they can be a big part of the 2012/13 version of the Victoria Grizzlies. Some good performances from the AP's who where up tonight and great to see a well deserved victory for Nick Taylor.
Some very nice penalty kills from the Grizzlies tonight!!!!
Stars of the Game:
1st * Chase Kaiser 2nd* Mark McLellan 3rd* Mario Puskarich
Attendence - 907 Shots on Goal - Grizzlies 35 and Rivermen 35
Powerplays - Grizzlies 1 for 4 and Rivermen 1 for 5
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