Victoria Grizzlies News

GRIZZLIES HOLD OFF TOUGH CONTENDER

GRIZZLIES HOLD OFF TOUGH CONTENDER

Salmon Arm aggressive at start, but Victoria weathers the storm

October 18, 2009 Ron Rauch ©Times Colonist -

At times this B.C. Hockey League season, the Victoria Grizzlies have struggled on their specialty teams. They have suffered through spells of not being able to click with the man advantage or kill off penalties.

That wasn’t the case last night at Bear Mountain Arena before 1,611 fans. It was the specialty teams that sparked the Grizz to a 7-3 victory over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.

With the Grizz holding a 1-0 lead early in the second period and just moments after Victoria goaltender Richard Virtanen stopped Mark Zengerle and Josh Manson on breakaways, the Grizz took over control of the contest with shorthanded goals by Wesley Myron and Dylan Nowakowski only nine seconds apart for a 3-0 lead. Myron deked Salmon Arm goaltender Kurt Williams before slipping the puck between his legs.

Alex Allan, Brandon Fagerheim and Dustin Mowrey added a powerplay markers as the Grizz held a 5-1 lead after 40 minutes.

“I knew that we would start to score some powerplay goals,’’ said Victoria coach Vic Gervais. “We have been working very hard at it and now they are starting to go in.

“Early in the game, Salmon Arm was very aggressive with its forechecking but we weathered the storm. One big key for us tonight was keeping the best player in the league [Mark Zengerle] off the scoresheet. When he doesn’t score, they have a tough time winning.’’

Fagerheim scored twice for Victoria while Jordan Heywood had the other.

For the second consecutive game, Heywood opened the scoring for Victoria. At the 8:13 mark of the first period, defenceman Heywood fired a wrist shot that beat Williams just inside the post.

“We have struggled lately on the power play and it was great to get a few tonight,’’ said Allan.

“When you score on the specialty teams, it really gets the crowd involved. Those two shorthanded goals really changed the momentum of the game.’’

Brett Knowles, Devin Gannon and Matt Cassidy replied for Salmon Arm.

The Grizz are back in action Wednesday at the Bear against the Penticton Vees. Game time is 7:15 p.m. FACEOFFS:

Just hours after losing 7-4 to the Grizz at the Bear, the Cowichan Valley Capitals released head coach Scott Robinson. Former Victoria Salmon King Dale Purinton will take over the reins on an interim basis for the remainder of the season. Purinton, who was coaching the Cowichan Valley Midget Capitals, also spent four years in the NHL with the New York Rangers. …Victoria forward Joel Lowry was suspended two games for leaving his feet on a hit against a Cowichan player Friday . . . The three stars were Virtanen, Nowakowski and Myron . . . Salmon Arm outshot Victoria 32-28 . . . Gerry Fitzgerald, one of the triplets from Port Alberni, was in the Salmon Arm lineup as an affiliated player from the Peninsula Panthers of the Vancouver Island Junior B League. His brothers — Leo and Myles — are with the Oceanside Generals . . . Salmon Arm GM Rylan Ferster is a former coach of the Grizz. Ferster will be the Canada West coach at the World Junior A Challenge next month in Summerside, P.E.I.