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.
1st 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
2nd 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 2nd 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.
2nd 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 2nd, 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 2nd 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.
3rd 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 3rd,
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 4th 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 2nd 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 3rd 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
Lindsay Muskies
