Victoria Grizzlies News
GRIZZLIES REBOUND FROM SHAKY STARTNovember 22, 2009 Sharie Epp ©Times Colonist - Maybe they just wanted to give the Merritt Centennials a running start. At any rate, the Centennials were leading 3-0 before the Victoria Grizzlies left the starting gate — in a big way — last night at Bear Mountain Arena. Scoring seven goals in just over 20 minutes, the Grizzlies thundered past the Cents to win 7-4. “I never got mad at them,” Grizzlies coach Victor Gervais said. “I just said keep going. You’re outplaying them, you’re getting chances. It’ll come.” And come it did. The Centennials have had their share of blowouts this season, losing 8-1 to Nanaimo and 6-3 to Cowichan Valley on this road trip, but they started yesterday’s game with the wind at their backs. Mainly, the credit went to 20-yearold call-up goaltender Riley Wall of Kamloops. Wall made a terrific glove save on a hard shot by Jordan Heywood, then foiled a two-on-one Victoria rush. His heroics allowed the Centennials to strike paydirt first, when Alexander MacMillan scored on his team’s second shot on net. Merritt veteran Andrew Pickering followed on a wraparound, and when Jeff Jones beat the Grizz shorthanded at 11:30, it was the end of the evening for goalie Colin Fernandes. Richie Virtanen took over in net, and the slightly shell-shocked Grizzlies attempted to figure out how they got down 3-0. It took them six minutes. “Their goalie kept them in the game, and we weren’t as sharp in our own end,” Gervais said. Rookie forward Wesley Myron ended the drought at 17:33 of the first period, and Dustin Mowry got Victoria’s second 26 seconds later. The quick goals were a familiar pattern for the Centennials (8-18-0-1). “We need to stay mentally focused and mentally strong,” said Merritt coach Dylan Forsythe, who was hired 10 days before training camp. Recruiting was non-existent, and it’s been tough instilling confidence in players who suffered through a 13-win season last year. “When we get scored on, we have a three-or four-shift lapse.” It didn’t get any easier in the second period, as the Grizzlies poured it on, outshooting Merritt 22-3. Brandon Fagerheim tied things at 3:56, and Brad Pawlowski lasered the go-ahead marker from the blueline at 6:40. Jones got his second of the night for Merritt to tie it 4-4, but that was it for the Cents. Fagerheim finished with a goal and four assists. Mowry put the Grizz up 5-4, Spencer Copp scored on a power play, and Myron, from his knees, capped the 7-4 home lead after 40 minutes. Shots were 49-22 for Victoria. The Grizzlies (13-9-3) are back in action against the Westside Warriors on Sunday, starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Bear.
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