Brian Drewry / Times Colonist
DECEMBER 8, 2018 10:22 PM
Who needs the league’s leading scorer, best defenceman and a 2018 NHL draft pick?
Not the Victoria Grizzlies, apparently.
The Grizzlies haven’t missed a beat. Those missing from the lineup include B.C. Hockey League leading scorer and projected 2019 NHL first round draft pick Alex Newhook, 2018 New York Rangers draft pick Riley Hughes, defencemen Carter Berger and Jeremie Bucheler and projected late-round 2019 NHL draft pick Alex Campell, who suit up today for Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in Bonneyville, Alta., as well as injured forwards Cam Thompson and Stephen Konroyd.
Thanks to early goals from acting captain Ryan Nolan and rookie Eddie Yan, and standout goaltending from Kyle Dumba, Victoria took down the Salmon Arm Silverbacks by a 2-0 score on Saturday at The Q Centre.
Nolan got the Grizzlies going with a breakaway goal on Silverbacks netminder Matthew Armitage 6:30 into the opening period. It was the Chicago native’s third goal in the past two games as the Grizzlies have won both games without the services of their “Big 5” at the World Junior A Challenge.
“I’m not surprised we’ve had success without a lot of key guys because this group has a lot of willingness to win and they’re still really good hockey players,” said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon, whose team remains atop the Island Division at 22-10-0-1.
The Grizzlies used four call-ups from the VIJHL and Sean Ramsay, Kahill Fontana, Matthew Clark and Reid Lindsay held their own against a physical Silverbacks team that saw their record drop to 15-13-3-0.
Dumba had his best game since joining the Grizzlies last month from the Surrey Eagles. The 20-year-old made 42 saves to improve to 6-2 since coming to Victoria.
The Grizzlies now head to Nanaimo for a Friday night game.
bdrewery@timescolonist.com
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