Photo: Sophiesphotographys
Victoria, BC ~ The Victoria Grizzlies used a hat trick performance from Tobias Pitka to defeat the Coquitlam Express 7-5 on Friday night and push the Express to the brink with a 3-2 series lead.
In the first period Victoria jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two goals from Tobias Pitka (1,2) just 17 seconds apart. Thomas Zocco (1) would get Coquitlam within one 11 seconds later on a long range bid from the far boards.
Grizz get off to a good start!🔥
Tobias Pitka fires home a one timer to give Victoria a 1-0 lead over the Express in a big game 5! @TomWilkepxp | @BCHLGrizzVideo pic.twitter.com/fBWkuSVfB6
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) April 12, 2025
Victoria’s two goal lead was reincarnated at 9:40 thanks to Landon Mackie (3) finding a rebound and burying on the power play, however, again Coquitlam answered back when Nikita Sitnikov (1) snagged his own powerplay goal at 13:50.
Will Schumacher (1) rounded out the scoring in the first at 16:06 when his wrister from the far circle on the power play gave Victoria a 4-2 lead after twenty minutes.
The Grizzlies picked up where they left off in the first by scoring just ten seconds into the second. That came by way of Seamus Latta (1). Coquitlam was having none of it with tallies of their own from first Connor Seeley (1) at 3:40 and then Sam Frandina (1) at 7:03 making it a one goal Victoria lead (5-4) after the second period.
THAT’S A WHOLE LATTA GOALS
Victoria jumps on Coquitlam, as Seamus Latta scoring just 10 seconds into the 2nd period to give the Grizzlies a 5-2 lead! @TomWilkepxp | @BCHLGrizzVideo pic.twitter.com/sSclrsuWd4
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) April 12, 2025
Coquitlam did what Victoria had done in the second by tying the game just 12 seconds into the third on James Shannon’s second of the post season on a breakaway.
Tobias Pitka got a game winner for Victoria at 12:03 after a point shot tip down through the legs of Coquitlam netminder Andrew Ness. The Pitka hat trick goal would go to review to check for a high stick however it was assessed a clean and legal play after a lengthy check. Landon Mackie’s second of the game and fourth of the post season iced the game for Victoria into an empty net at 19:29 bringing the Grizzlies faithful to their feet.
Andrew Ness, who was coming off a 63 save shutout for Coquitlam, seemed much more human on Friday night giving up six on 39 shots. Oliver Auyeung-Ashton made 21 saves on 26 shots for Victoria.
Sam Frandina was given third star of the game for Express with a goal and an assist while Landon Mackie was named second star with two goals. Tobias Pitka’s hat trick performance was a well deserving first star of the game.
Game six goes on Sunday evening at 7:00 PM from the Poirier Sport and Leisure Centre in Coquitlam.
