PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 4, 2017
By Jonathan Hodgson
The Victoria Grizzlies and Chilliwack Chiefs played game three of the Coastal Conference Final in the British Columbia Hockey League’s Fred Page Cup playoffs on Tuesday night at the Q Centre in Victoria.
A hat trick from Jordan Kawaguchi and three powerplay goals powered the Chilliwack Chiefs to a convincing 6-0 win and the series lead.
(Box Score– http://victoriagrizzlies.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=05c356250a4761887fde8ecb9&id=213ad7cee4&e=1f9fa2e65b)
Chilliwack now leads the best-of-seven series, two games to one.
(BCHL Playoff Bracket– http://victoriagrizzlies.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=05c356250a4761887fde8ecb9&id=5fb7f77c5d&e=1f9fa2e65b)
Chilliwack struck first late in the first period on Jordan Kawaguchi’s first goal of the night on the powerplay to take a 1-0 lead with just 47 seconds remaining in the first frame.
It didn’t take long for the Chiefs to widen their lead as the second period got underway. First it was Kohen Olischefski netting his seventh goal of the playoffs at 2:58 before Kawaguchi recorded two quick goals at 8:45, another powerplay goal, and 10:58 to complete the hat trick and extend the visiting team’s lead to 4-0.
The hat trick brings Kawaguchi’s playoff total to a BCHL-best 10 goals.
(BCHL Playoff Stats– http://victoriagrizzlies.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=05c356250a4761887fde8ecb9&id=9b482c4ecb&e=1f9fa2e65b)
The third period brought more of the same as Chilliwack padded their lead twice more with Aaron O’Neill’s first goal of the playoffs at 11:43 and then Justin Dixson’s second of the playoffs at 15:23.
Dixson’s tally was the Chiefs’ third powerplay goal of the night, finishing 3-6 while Victoria was 0-1.
Chilliwack outshot the Grizzlies in all three periods, finishing with a 38-18 advantage on the shot clock
Mark Sinclair stopped all 17 shots he faced, earning the win in goal for Chilliwack while Matthew Galajda allowed five goals on 35 shots in net for the Grizzlies.
Chiefs’ goaltender Mathieu Caron and Victoria’s Tony Rehm each played the final eight minutes. Caron stopped the only shot he faced while Rehm allowed a goal on three shots.
Kawaguchi now leads the league in playoff scoring with his 10 goals and 24 points.
Game four will be played on Wednesday at 7:00pm in Victoria at the Q Centre.
TO BUY TICKETS: Call the box office (250) 385-1555 or buy them online: http://bit.ly/2kxtHuC
