Cleve Dheensaw / Times Colonist
NOVEMBER 19, 2018 10:06 PM
The only thing missing is the Regal Beagle. But while Three’s Company may be fine for a 1970s sitcom, it’s never ideal in the hockey crease.
Yet, that’s the situation the Victoria Grizzlies find themselves in. The punchline, however, is that only one of their three goaltenders is currently operational, so the team will have to bring in a fourth to back-up Kyle Dumba, who was acquired over the weekend from the Surrey Eagles.
Dumba, the younger brother of NHL defenceman Matt Dumba and who has WHL experience with the Calgary Hitmen, was pressed into service Sunday when starter Kurtis Chapman went down in the third period in the 6-5 shootout victory against the Vipers in Vernon. Dumba played the last 18 minutes and 49 seconds of the third period and the five-minute overtime, and was very good in allowing one goal while stopping 16 of 17 shots, and all four Vernon shootout attempts.
Chapman, who like Dumba is a 20-year-old from Calgary, was having a breakout season. But he is on crutches and not bearing weight on the affected lower limb. Zack Rose, meanwhile, has not played yet for Victoria in the crease because he is recovering from shoulder surgery. The Grizzlies do not expect Rose, who’s 19 and has an NCAA scholarship to Bowling Green in his back pocket, back until mid-December.
“Of the three [Dumba, Chapman, Rose], only one is healthy at the moment,” said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon, about his muddled crease situation.
“We’ll take it one day at a time and see how it plays out.”
B.C. Hockey League rosters must be finalized on Jan. 10.
One of either Dumba, Chapman or Rose will be the odd man out in the Victoria crease. Didmon is relieved simply to have that choice. That’s because a cupboard that will be so full is pretty empty right now.
“We were lucky and very fortunate to get Dumba for a PDF [player development fee],” said Didmon.
“We had 20-year-old room while Surrey was looking to go with someone younger.”
Dumba becomes the Grizzlies’ fifth of six allowable 20-year-old players.
Asked about adding a sixth 20-year-old up front as a skater, Didmon replied: “We’ll see if a right guy is available.”
Meanwhile, Cameron Thompson won it for Victoria in the shootout Sunday in Vernon as the Grizzlies (17-8-1) completed their three-game road trip 2-1.
“There was some adversity and lots of travel,” said Didmon.
“And we ended it against a big, tough team in Vernon [the Grizzlies led 3-0 before the Vipers rallied to send the game to extra time and shootout]. You always want six-of-six points on a three-game road trip. But I’m mildly pleased with getting four-of-six points because we were not overly consistent through the nine periods.”
New York Rangers draft pick Riley Hughes scored twice in Vernon (9-8-9) for Victoria, while Campbell, defenceman Jeremie Bucheler and Central Scouting 2019 NHL draft-projected Alex Campbell scored the other regulation-time goals.
Grizzlies forward Alex Newhook, projected by every scouting service for the upper half of the first round in the 2019 NHL draft in Vancouver, picked up two assists and is second in BCHL scoring with 40 points, two points adrift of leader Kevin Wall of the Chilliwack Chiefs.
The Island Division-leading Grizzlies are in Alberni Valley on Friday night to take on the Bulldogs before returning to The Q Centre for a Saturday night matchup against the Nanaimo Clippers.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
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