Monday, December 14, 2015 – Submitted by Brian Drewry / Times Colonist
The Victoria Grizzlies got an up-close-and-personal look at what it takes to be in the top third of the B.C. Hockey League last weekend.
After a 2-0 loss to the third-overall Wenatchee Wild on Saturday night at The Q Centre, the Grizzlies were beaten 5-3 by the sixth overall West Kelowna Warriors on Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday in front of 898 fans at The Q, the Grizzlies came out of the gate slow and the Warriors made them pay as the visitors scored at the 37-second mark when Quinn Foreman slid one under Victoria netminder Mitchell Benson for the early lead. Five minutes later, the Warriors took command when Kyle Hope got a softy on Benson from the slot.
After Keyvan Mokhtari gave the Grizzlies some life with his ninth goal of the season, Lane Gillis restored the Warriors’ two-goal lead with just 3:34 remaining in the opening period.
A shorthanded goal by Liam Blackburn 2:34 into the second period all but ended it as the Warriors went up 4-1. Kevin Massy would score two more for the Grizzlies but Victoria would fall for the second straight night, dropping their record to 13-19-0-4.
The Warriors, who improved to 19-13-0-2, got a solid game between the pipes by Keelan Williams as he made 28 saves for the victory. Benson turned aside 29 Warriors shots.
The Grizzlies’ loss, coupled with Alberni Valley’s 4-2 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters on Monday night, allowed the Bulldogs to move within one point of Victoria for fourth place in the Island Division and Alberni has three games in hand. The two teams will face each other Thursday night in Port Alberni.
