Above Photo: Sophiesphotographys
Victoria, BC ~ The Victoria Grizzlies return to home ice tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Q Centre in Colwood after splitting the opening two games of the Coastal Conference Final on the road in Chilliwack.
With Victoria taking the opener over the Chiefs, they have put themselves in a good position in this series to be tied head back home. They will, however, be in tough this evening against a Chilliwack team that is riding high following a big third period on Saturday night that saw them score three goals in the first ten minutes to be ahead 5-1. Victoria actually lead the game 1-0 after the first five minutes and were playing a strong game, heading into the third down 2-1 while being unable to strike on four power play opportunities. Sadly for them their netminder being targeted, some calls and their power play all ended up playing into some frustration in the third that saw the Chiefs smell blood and pounce.
The Grizzlies will have to be more composed tonight even without their star netminder Oliver Auyeung-Ashton who was targeted in the first two games of the series and promptly injured late in the second period of game two. The more than capable Kyle Kelsey (1-1-1, 2.45 GAA, .920 SV%) will get the start this evening at the Q Centre with Black Ace Paolo Frasca backing up. Paolo is a 2006 born netminder signed for next season for the Grizzlies touted as the next young goaltender to take the torch from Auyeung-Ashton. Frasca posted a 26-6-1 record with a 1.98 GAA and .935 SV% with St. Andrews College this season.
Victoria will also look to their special teams play as a major key to victory in games three and four on home soil. They went 2/3 on the man advantage in game one’s victory while being 2/2 shorthanded. Game two was a different story however going 0/5 on the power play and 4/6 while short handed. That will need to be tightened up if they are to have success against a Chilliwack team that has been shorthanded the second most times in the BCHL during the playoffs (47). Only the Brooks Bandits have been killing more often (48 in just 11 games).
One of the positives for Victoria out of Saturday night is that Easton Kovacs’ one game suspension is now over and he can return to play. The six foot four 21 year old leads Victoria in ice time this season and they will need his defensive prowess in order to be successful in this series. Another good vibe moment for Victoria in game two was both Chase Pirtle and Reegan Hiscock extending their personal point streaks to 10 straight games. Hiscock has 13 in that span including scoring in four straight while Pirtle has 12 during that streak.
Puck drop goes at 7:00 p.m. tonight at the Q Centre in Colwood and tickets are available for purchase online by CLICKING HERE.
2024-25 Team Ranks (Post Season)
| Victoria | Chilliwack | |
| Goals For Per Game | 3.71 (2nd) | 3.43 (5th) |
| Goals Against Per Game | 3.07 (6th) | 2.00 (2nd) |
| Power Play Percentage | 29.0% (3rd) | 21.7% (6th) |
| Penalty Kill Percentage | 75.0% (11th) | 85.1% (3rd) |
| Penalty Minutes Per Game | 10.64 (9th) | 13.93 (16th) |
| Home Record | 5-1 (2nd) | 7-2 (4th) |
| Away Record | 4-4 (T-3rd) | 2-3 (6th) |
| Playoff Record Last Five Post Seasons | 16-22 (.421) | 28-27 (.509) |
