Victoria, BC ~ The Victoria Grizzlies prepare to visit the Powell River Kings tonight from the Hap Parker Arena in Powell River to begin a two day home and home set which will conclude the two teams seven game regular season series.
The Hap Parker Arena opened in 1955 in Powell River and the Grizzlies hope that the only throwback happening tonight will be a reincarnation of their last meeting with the Kings on February 15th. On that night it was a Chase Pirtle hat trick propelling them to a 7-3 win on home ice.
So far this year the Grizzlies have owned the season series, winning four of their five matchups with the Sunshine Coast located Kings. Powell River have however had their fair share of struggles against most competition this season. The Kings sit 10th in the Coastal Conference with an 8-30-6 record, having lost nine in a row coming into tonight (0-7-2).
Victoria has won three of their last four and have picked up points in all four of those contests. They sit second in the Coastal Conference with a 24-11-7 record (55 points). The Surrey Eagles also have 55 points but the Grizzlies have one game in hand. A big part of their success has been their goal scoring, especially in the second half of the season. Since the start of the second half, the Grizzlies are scoring over 4.2 goals per game while being at a year total mark of 3.83.
Kyle Kelsey will get the nod for the Grizzlies between the pipes and for him, he will look to pick up where he left off. Last time out he made 52 saves on 54 shots during a 2-1 overtime loss at the hands of the Cowichan Valley Capitals. This year he holds a 6-3-3 record with a 3.14 GAA and .914 SV% for the Grizzlies.
This is a big weekend for the Grizzlies who are hoping that the discrepancy in the standings will translate on the ice and help continue their hot play as of late. Streakiness has been a common theme for the Grizzlies this year, however the second half has seen much more consistency. They hold a 9-3-3 record since the end of December after some new defenseman have settled in and the two deadline acquisitions have looked splendid. Will Schumacher has four goals and five points in four games and Max Silver has two assists in four.
Lookout for Chase Pirtle who now has 20 points in his career against the Powell River Kings in just 13 appearances.
NEED TO KNOW STATS
- Victoria is 3-1-1 in their last five and 5-2-3 in their last ten
- Powell River is 0-5-0 in their last five and 1-7-2 in their last ten
- Chase Pirtle leads the Grizzlies with 13 points in six games this year against Powell River (6-7-13) he also has 11 goals and nine assists in his career against PR
- Reegan Hiscock has nine points against the Kings this year (5-4-9)
- In three years Hiscock also has 6 goals at the Hap Parker Arena
- Victoria’s Will Schumacher has four goals in four games since joining the Grizzlies at the deadline
- Victoria is 22-9-6 against the Coastal Conference this year (.676)
- Victoria’s powerplay is 10 for 24 (41.7%) this month and their penalty kill is 23 for 23 (100%)
- Victoria’s Charles Cote leads the BCHL in penalty minutes per game at 5.50 (44 PIM in 8 GP)
- Victoria has three players in the top 25 in goals scored in the BCHL; Reegan Hiscock, 22 (12th), Chase Pirtle, 21 (14th) & Will Schumacher, 18 (25th)
2024-25 Team Ranks
| Victoria | Powell River | |
| Goals For Per Game | 3.83 (7th) | 2.66 (20th) |
| Goals Against Per Game | 3.38 (9th) | 5.00 (21st) |
| Power Play Percentage | 26.1% (3rd) | 16.2% (18th) |
| Penalty Kill Percentage | 85.0% (3rd) | 72.7% (21st) |
| Penalty Minutes Per Game | 10.62 (7th) | 13.25 (19th) |
