Victoria Grizzlies News

SECOND OR BUST FOR GRIZZLIES

SECOND OR BUST FOR GRIZZLIES

January 30, 2010 Sharie Epp ©Times Colonist -

The Victoria Grizzlies are entering the home stretch of the B.C. Hockey League schedule, and the view from Bear Mountain is a pretty good one.

Starting with back-toback home games — today against the Nanaimo Clippers and tomorrow versus the Prince George Spruce Kings, at 7:15 and 4:30 p.m., respectively — the Grizzlies are mainly facing teams below them in the standings.

It’s a plus on one side, but Grizzlies coach Victor Gervais isn’t expecting to rack up any easy victories.

“Those teams are trying to make the playoffs,” Gervais said. “The last 10 games are always the hardest to win, because these teams need to win.”

Victoria is juggling with the Langley Chiefs in the battle for third place in the Coastal Conference standings. Both teams are just a game or two away from overtaking the Powell River Kings for second spot, but the Grizzlies can make up ground against the Kings with two go-rounds in February, including a make-up game in PR on Feb. 16.

The top team in the conference looks to be the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The ’Dogs would have a bye through the first round of playoffs, leaving the other six teams to fight over three semifinal berths.

Gervais has tacked up the Victoria, Langley, and Powell River schedules all around the dressing room, along with signs saying the Grizzlies goal is second place, and every game means something.

“It’s posted everywhere. There must be 20 signs saying that,” said Gervais, whose team’s eight-game winning streak came to a 2-1 double overtime loss in Port Alberni last Tuesday.

“I don’t think we played our best game. Our goaltender [Ryan Holfeld] was the difference in the game. He made a lot of big saves.”

Although the Grizzlies have been winning, their goal production has been a bit lacking. Gervais isn’t particularly worried, saying it’s a normal lull, but he’s going to switch up the lines to see if that generates more luck at the net. The main thing the team has been working on in practice is their power play.

“I’m going to go down to just two power-play units, and get them clicking and working together.”

Victoria has won six of seven against Nanaimo this season, but the Clippers are coming off an overtime win over Prince George on Wednesday.