Above Photo: Clippers and Grizzlies skaters battle for the puck in front of the Grizzly goal
Juan De Fuca Arena ~ The Victoria Grizzlies teed off their exhibition schedule on Sunday afternoon by falling 6-3 to the Nanaimo Clippers in their annual Sooke Rotary Club Fundraiser game even though out shooting their visiting counterparts 42-22.
Victoria, who did not dress a returning player, found themselves down 2-0 after 6:40 gone in the first after goals from Nanaimo’s Connor Haynes and Samuel Boisvert gave the Clippers the quick edge.
The Grizzlies would cut that lead in half 36 seconds later when Bedford, Nova Scotia native Malcolm Green put the puck into a wide open goal due to a cute passing play with first year players Patrick Murphy (North Kingstown, Rhode Island) and Richard Baran (Bratislava, Slovakia).
Mid way through the 2nd frame, Grizzlies recruit, Charlie Gollab (Toronto, ON), would tie the game when finding himself all alone in front and sliding the puck between the legs of Nanaimo goaltender Tyler Hodges.
Two minutes and sixteen seconds later another new recruit, Patrick Murphy, got in on the action by firing a wrist shot home on the power-play to give the Grizzlies the lead just over halfway gone in the second.
The score-sheet would however turn to strictly Clippers after that with goals from Dallas Earl and Jack Edwards late in the second and two markers in the 3rd from Gus El-Tahhan and Cooper Wilson.
Owen Bresson (Dominion, Nova Scotia) made 16 saves in his Grizzlies debut.
Victoria will practice the rest of the week before playing host to the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Saturday evening at 6 pm from the Q Center to continue their remaining 4 game exhibition schedule.
