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Grizzlies Take Barn Burner Over Kings

Above Photo: Kyle Robinson Photography

 

Victoria, BC ~ The Victoria Grizzlies defeated the Powell River Kings 8-7 in overtime on Saturday night from the Q Centre in a high scoring and entertaining affair.

 

The Grizzlies rolled into  the game on a four game win streak and started the game well thanks to Julian Cull burying a loose puck in the slot for his sixth just 39 seconds into the game. Joel Purdom would tie the game for Powell River after Victoria netminder Kyle Kelsey accidently put a pass from behind his net right onto the Kings captains stick and he couldn’t miss the open goal at 2:07.

 

Victoria struck just over four minutes later when Landon Mackie took a pass through the neutral zone from Reegan Hiscock, entered in on the left wing and fired a wrist shot love glove on Powell River netminder Cooper Flemming for his 11th tally of the campaign. Ryan Watt would then get in on the scoring at 10:37 with a shorthanded goal. Watt entered into the zone with Julian Cull carrying the puck on a shorthanded two-on-one before saucering it across to Watt who’s deke to the back hand and roofed finish was perfect. Watt’s seventh of the year was also the first short handed goal of the 2024-25 season for the Grizzlies.

 

Powell River pulled within one at 11:41 on a partial break from Brendan Giles that saw him fire a puck low blocker on Kyle Kelsey. The Grizzlies then retook the lead with 5:54 to play in the first period on Sam Ward’s first as a Grizzley. He one timed home a centering feed in the slot of Julian Cull to the top left corner.

 

The Kings would score four straight to begin the second period to create a nightmare start to a period for the Grizzlies who seemed to be on the back foot with goals from: Samanski (7), Harder (2), Davis (5) and Beard (4) for PR. Oliver Auyeung-Ashton came on in relief of Kelsey after the fourth Kings goal at 7:54 of the second.

 

The Grizzlies and Kings battle in front of the net on Saturday night (Photo: Kyle Robinson Photography)

 

With 1:32 remaining in the second Oscar Pantzare pulled Victoria back within one after ripping a one timer top shelf on a pass again from Julian Cull. That gave the Grizzlies some momentum against the run of play heading to the third.

 

In the third period, Victoria tied the game on a Chase Pirtle tally that saw him pounce on a rebound and slide it five hole to make it a six to six game. Tobias Pitka then gave the Grizzlies the lead at 10:41 after Pantzare’s point shot hit a body in front before Pitka beat a defenseman to the puck for his ninth. Noah Samanski tied the game at seven a piece with less than four minutes to play during a lengthy five on three powerplay which sent the game to overtime for the eleventh time this year for the Grizzlies.

 

Chase Pirtle celebrates his 17th of the year (Photo: Kyle Robinson Photography)

 

In overtime Tobias Pitka was assessed a minor penalty for holding at 1:44 giving the Kings a golden opportunity to seal the game. Stopping then was Oliver Auyeung-Ashton in a relief appearance for the first time this season. He made four remarkable saves to keep the Grizzlies in it including a stop in the splits going left to right to rob Noah Samanski of a hat trick and game winner.

 

Victoria would use the momentum of the splendid goaltending and penalty kill to spend some time in the offensive end. Reegan Hiscock would take a puck at the top of the slot and fire a wrist shot which hit a Kings defenseman in front and fluttered into the back of the Powell River goal. That tally ended the game and brought the nigh on 1200 fans in attendance to their feet to celebrate a wild Grizzlies overtime win.

 

Julian Cull was named first star of the game with a goal and two assist while Ryan Watt took home second star honors with a goal and three assists. Noah Samanski’s two goal effort for Powell River was recognized with third star of the game.

 

Victoria improves to 20-9-4 on the season with the victory and that pushes them to a three point cushion in the Coastal Conference with a Cowichan Valley loss as well on Saturday night to Nanaimo. Chilliwack also fell meaning that Victoria sits just three points out of first place in the division with 21 games remaining.

 

The Grizzlies are back in action in two weeks as the BCHL presses the pause button for their annual All-Star weekend this coming Friday and Saturday in Salmon Arm. The Grizzlies will host Langley on the 25th for their next game with a post game skate taking place to meet and skate with all the players. Tickets are AVAILABLE HERE.