Victoria, BC ~ The Alberni Valley Bulldogs defeated the Victoria Grizzlies 11-2 on Thursday evening at the Q Centre in Colwood, welcoming the home side to 2026 in ugly fashion.
The Bulldogs got three in the first from Kye Benoche (8th & 9th) and Grady Magner (3rd). They would then add five in the second thanks to Teague McAllister (9th), Wyatt Davis (12th), Kye Benoche (10th), Kai Matthew (15th), and Samuel Leonard (6th). The visitors rubbed salt in the wound by dropping three more into the mix from Kai Matthew (16th), Brandon Gill (5th), and Ryan Small (7th) in the final twenty minutes.
Victoria’s two goals came from Artur Gross (10th) and Hunter Ashton (2nd).
Mitch Kathler lasted just over 31 minutes in his Grizzlies debut, making 10 saves on 17 shots, while Patrik Kliment made 14 saves on 18 shots in relief. Jack Hirshorn stopped 21 of the 23 shots he saw in the Bulldogs’ crease.
Victoria’s Vidar Blixt was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for an illegal check to the head of Alberni’s Charlie Vincent early in the second period.
Kye Benoche’s hat-trick and assist netted him the first star of the game, while Brandon Gill (goal and four assists) was named second star. Kai Matthew was given the third and final star of the game.
The Grizzlies will look for an answer on Saturday night against the league-leading Cowichan Valley Capitals (23-7-1) at the Cowichan Community Arena in Duncan, BC.
