Final Pre-season Game: Victoria Grizzlies 5-2 Powell River Kings @ Bear Mtn Arena, Sept 2nd

 

 

The final preseason game, saw a Grizzlies team looking like it’s ready for the start of the season with veterans and new additions starting to gel with some promising line combinations coming together. A hardworking Grizzlies line up, would come out worthy 5-2 winners on a pleasant Sunday afternoon, as they would see off a plucky Powell River team who did have a few of their experienced players out of the lineup.

1^st Period – Would see a confident Grizzlies team move the puck around nicely with the top line of the Fitzgerald’s playing some nice hockey and really troubling the Kings with their speed and movement. The third line of Lawson, Kaiser and Walchuk would battle the Kings hard in the neutral zone and would create a few chances in the opening 20 minutes. However, it would be the Fitzgerald’s who would get the scoring going just before the mid-way point of the first, after Blake Thompson, he played the puck to Leo Fitzgerald who chipped a beautiful pass across centre ice to brother Gerry. Gerry, then beared down on goal and slotted the puck passed Kings goalie, Ostepchuck.

The Grizzlies 2^nd goal would be a result of some hard work from that third line again, as Lawson intercepted a pass out of the Kings zone, fought off a defender to shuffle the puck to Chase Kaiser, who beat Ostepchuck to make it 2-0. Victoria, would round out the scoring in the first, thanks to Blake Thompson who was excellent throughout the game, as he would put a nice pass through to Gerry Fitzgerald for his 2^nd of the night to make it a 3-0 Grizzlie. Grizzlies goalie, Brady Rouleau wasn’t really tested too much and the shots he did have to deal, he looked confident and his positioning was spot on.

 2^nd Period – The Fitzgerald’s where really clicking and where fun to watch, as Powell River did their best to contain a Grizzlies team who looked in the mood. The Grizzlies where unlucky not to make it 4-0 when a nice pass from Myles Powell, put Myles Fitzgerald through on the goalie only to be stopped by a nice save from Ostepchuck. Joe Blanton, tried to spark Kent Lewis’s men in the 2^nd, when he dropped his glove and took on the bigger Tuner Lawson. A few nice exchanges would ensue, but, Lawson’s right handers would give him the upper hand in this tilt. Both players where then assessed game misconducts.

Half way through the 2^nd  the Grizzlies switched goaltenders with the recently acquired Michael Stiliadis replacing the solid Brady Rouleau. Stiliadis, would be called upon twice in five minutes pulling off two remarkable saves, the first one from Evan Richardson; saw Stiliadis show off his agility as he stretched out to make a nice left leg save which looked like it was going into the corner of the net. Michael’s second save was equally impressive, as quick and skillful Kings forward Jarryd Leung was threw on Stiliadis who came out to limit the angle and time Leung had, to make a superb save. Three would become two, as Leo Fitzgerald was thrown out of the game for a hit from behind at the end of the period.

The Grizzlies would lead 3-0 going into the third.

 3^rd Period – Would see Powell River really step it up and notch as they started to make in roads and grow in confidence in the Grizzlies zone. They would be rewarded just before the mid-way point of the 3^rd, when Villeneuve with some nice moves would catch Stiliadis a little out of position to score Powell River’s first with assists from Scarth and Richardson. A few minutes later Luke Nogard would find himself with space in the Grizzlies zone and he would score to make it an interesting game, with about 10 minutes to go at 3-2.

However, the Grizzlies would move back in the driver’s seat with De Jong and Urban making their way up ice and causing problems for the Kings at times. Victoria’s second line of Dante Hahn, Brett Hartskamp and Garrett Skrbich would realty start to get things going as a unit, as they started to pass the puck around nicely and Hahn would be rewarded with the Grizzlies 4^th goal with helpers from DeJong and Urban. The second line would combine again on the Grizzlies fifth and final goal as some hard work from Brett Hartskamp would see him beat a Kings defender along the boards and race down the left wing, before executing a picture perfect pass across the face of the Kings goal to Garret Skrbich, who positioned himself nicely to beat Ostepchuck with a clinical finish.

That would finish up the scoring, with the Grizzlies running our comfortable winners 5-2.

 

Game Thoughts Grizzlies – Nice display, with what looks like a team that’s ready to start the season with a sense of structure and confidence. The Grizzlies worked hard and really put the Kings under some pressure and as in what is true Bill Bestwick style hockey, you started to see players finish their checks and start to fore-check. The four lines, which I’m sure are not quite set in stone yet, did well on the night with the triplets really looking like a force to be reckoned with this season.

Urban, Thompson and DeJong, looked good at the back and I really enjoyed the hard work and energy of the Lawson, Kaiser and Walchuk line in the first two periods.

Blake Thompson, really stood out for me, playing very well in his own end closing down the Kings forwards, using his size well, looks comfortable going forward and takes shifts on the PP and PK. Rouleau and Stiliadis both played well in the contest, looking sharp and comfortable behind their defence.

All in all a good end to the preseason.

 

Game Thoughts Powell River – It was the 2^nd game in two nights for this team and even though they did have some of their vets rested, however, they were pretty much chasing the game for the first two periods. In the 3^rd period Evan Richardson looked his ever dangerous self and experienced players such as Scarth, Villeneuve, Paddock and Leung showing the quality that they have did give the Grizzlies some things to think about.

Credit to Kings goalie, Braden Ostepchuck who made some nice saves stopping 32 of 37 tonight.

 

Shots on goal – Grizzlies 37 and Powell River 32                          

 3 stars of the game - * Gerry Fitzgerald(Vic)   ** Blake Thompson(Vic)  *** Evan Richardson(PR)

 Line Up  - Victoria Grizzlies

Forwards

1st Line  -           Leo Fitzgerald       Gerry Fitzgerald         Myles Fitzgerald
2nd Line -          Garrett Skrbich      Dante Hahn                 Brett Hartskamp
3rd Line -           Turner Lawson      Chase Kaiser               David Walchuk
4th Line -           Mark McLellan      Myles Powell              Justin Rai

Defence

1 -        DJ Jones               Blake Thompson
2 -        Nolan DeJong       Zach Urban
3 -        Eben Norman       Justin Coachman

Goalies - Mike Stiliadis
                Brady Rouleau


Line Up - Powell River Kings

Forward

1st Line -          Robbie Murden     JP Villeneuve       Mitch Ball
2nd Line -         JJ Coleshaw          Matt Quilty           Matt Dupont
3rd Line -         Jarryd Leung         Evan Richardson   Stephen Hiff
4th Line -         Matt Scarth            Luke Nogard         James Neil

Defence

1-       Jordan Benton       Rylan Ball
2 -      Jordan Paddock    Luke Ripley
3 -      Brian Rideout       Christian Black

Goalies - Braeden Ostepchuck
                Jeff Smith