Victoria Grizzlies News
GRIZZLIES DOWN CLIPPERS IN HOME OPENERPHOTO BY GORDON LEE September 20, 2009 Cleve Dheensaw ©Times Colonist - With an NCAA recruiter from Yale out to watch him, Victoria Grizzlies forward Dustin Mowrey picked an opportune time to have a highlight-reel night in leading the Grizzlies to a neartheatrical 4-3 victory over the arch Island nemesis Nanaimo Clippers. It was Victoria’s B.C. Hockey League home opener before 1,612 fans last evening at Bear Mountain Arena. The last time we checked in on the set at the Bear during the previous installment of As the BCHL Turns, the Grizzlies had just ended their 2008-09 season last spring with an overtime loss to Humboldt in the RBC Cup national Junior ‘A’ semifinals. The opening home episode of the 2009-10 BCHL campaign went a lot better for the Grizz, thanks to Mowrey’s two goals and Alex Allan’s overtime winner. The 20-year-old forward Allan, headed next season to U.S. collegiate NCAA Alabama-Huntsville, ended it with 1:48 left in the threeon-three second five-minute overtime session. The Grizzlies were fortunate moments before not to be penalized as they got away with a full-on body check into the boards from behind as Mowrey unloaded on Nanaimo forward and former Grizzlies player Cody Bremner, who appeared to turn at just the wrong time. Mowrey was also amply heard from earlier with his two goals. “We were down 2-0 heading into the third period but came out with intensity . . . and I was at the right place at the right time,” said Mowrey, as Victoria went to 2-2 and Nanaimo to 1-2-1 on the young season. “It felt great to contribute.” Mowrey said the hit on his former teammate Bremner was an accident. “We were playing hard and it was nothing intentional,” said Mowrey. “Maybe I got away with one . . . I don’t know.” First-period goals by Brandon Fagerheim and Nolan Zarazun gave the Clippers a 2-0 lead which stood until Mowrey finally got the Grizzlies on the board with a power-play goal at 55 seconds of the third period. A defensive miscue allowed the Clippers to regain a two-goal advantage through Andrew Gladiuk at 4:32 before Teal Burns sliced in smartly to bring the Grizzlies back to within one at 3-2. Mowrey, with Victoria goaltender Ritchie Virtanen pulled, scored with just 15 seconds remaining in regulation time to send the game into overtime. The first five-minute four-on-four session settled nothing before Allan’s winner in the second OT period made this a joyous home opener for the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies next play Friday at the Bear against the Cowichan Valley Capitals. ICE CHIPS: It’s very early in the season but already BCHL rosters show 34 players committed to NCAA athletic scholarships, although the Grizzlies and Clippers combine for only one to date — yesterday’s OT hero Allan of the Grizz … Vancouver Canucks legend Trevor Linden and the Grizzlies players will be signing autographs today from noon to 4 p.m. at CIBC Westshore next to the Superstore in Langford.
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