It’s fan appreciation night tonight for the Victoria Grizzlies, with plenty of prizes up for grabs.
But the biggest gift the team could possibly give its fans — a first-place finish in the B.C. Hockey League — went floating out the window on Friday night in a disappointing 6-4 loss to the Cowichan Valley Capitals at the Island Savings Centre in Duncan.
The two teams meet again in the regular-season wrap-up at The Q Centre tonight at 7:15 p.m. But Friday’s loss, combined with Langley’s victory in Prince George, eliminated any hope of a first-overall finish.
It would have been just the second time in modern-day history that the current Victoria franchise claimed the regular-season crown as the Grizzlies managed the feat in 2009. The Victoria Cougars also turned the trick way back in 1969 and 1971.
The surprising Capitals saw to it not happening and also surged by the Alberni Valley Bulldogs into the fourth and final post-season berth in the Island Division.
There is also a chance the Grizzlies may slide into second in the division. The Grizzlies and the Powell River Kings are now tied in the division, with identical records with four wins, four losses and a tie. They are also tied in goals for and against head to head at 25 each. Victoria does have a superior goal differential overall. First in the division means either a date with Cowichan or Alberni in the first round of the playoffs.
“I think both teams will be hard to play against,” Grizzlies head coach Craig Didmon said before Friday’s play. “With the battle of attrition, you lean towards Cowichan, but they have a lot of parts that are dangerous. And if it’s Alberni, it’s a rematch of last year’s second round.”
Cowichan opened the scoring Friday on a Daniel Wanner goal at 19:39 of the first period. Former Grizzly Myles Powell made it 2-0 at 11:12 of the second period, despite the visitors out-shooting the hosts 27-18 over the 40 minutes.
Robin Gusse held up the goose egg through the first two periods, but finally cracked on Gerry Fitzgerald’s early goal in the third. Goals 37 seconds apart from Mason Malkowich and Kyle Horsman made it 4-1 Cowichan before Rory McGuire and Mark McLellan replied for Victoria.
Colton Kehler and Reilly O’Connor ended the scoring for Cowichan before Leo Fitzgerald replied in the last minute.
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