Grizzlies beat Capitals again to keep home fires burning

Grizzlies captain Marty Westhaver, right, fends off check of Capitals’ Dimitri Mikrogiannakis on Friday night.
Photograph By DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST

Brian Drewry / Times Colonist
NOVEMBER 29, 2019 10:04 PM

Home suddenly is sweet home for the Victoria Grizzlies.

After losing seven straight games at The Q Centre, the Grizzlies have rolled off three consecutive victories in their own barn, much to the delight of the 1,290 in attendance at The Q on Friday night to see the Grizzlies knock off the Cowichan Valley Capitals for the second straight time, this time by a 4-3 score.

Led by their newfound dynamic duo of the captain Marty Westhaver and high-scoring rookie Cody Monds, the Grizzlies jumped on the Capitals early, taking a 1-0 lead 1:22 into the game when Monds sent Westhaver in on a breakaway. The veteran winger made no mistake, beating Ben Howard for his 10th goal of the season.

Nine minutes into the second, Westhaver returned the favour, setting up Monds at the side of the net for an easy tap-in on the power play for the NCAA Providence College-committed Monds’ 12th goal of the year.

Cowichan, still second in the Island Division at 18-11-3, came flying out the gate in the third. They struck just 16 seconds into the final frame, with John Lundy banging home a rebound to break Blake Wood’s shutout bid.

But just two minutes later, Grizzlies 17-year-old rookie Michael Hoekstra finished off a breakaway for his first career B.C. Hockey League goal to send the Grizzlies (10-21-0) on their way.

Defenceman Reid Lindsay banked a point shot off the end wall and the back of Howard’s legs into the net at the four-minute mark for insurance.

The Capitals got a Cullen Ferguson goal midway through the final period and a Will Arquiett goal with 1.8 seconds left and their goalie pulled to make it close.

Wood finished with 40 saves, while Howard stopped 30 Grizzlies’ shots.

The Grizzlies have tonight off before hosting the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon at The Q Centre.

LOOSE PUCKS: Newly acquired Alex DiPaolo and Colton Kitchen made their Grizzlies debut Friday night after coming over from the Penticton Vees in a trade that sent veteran defenceman Nico Somerville the other way. … The Grizzlies’ injury list continues to grow. Newcomer Vincent Nardone missed Friday’s game due to an injury. Also missing due to injuries were goaltender Liam Souliere, defenceman Brady MacDonald and forward Eddie Yan and Trevor Bishop.

© 2019 Copyright Times Colonist