The Victoria Grizzlies returned to Bear Mountain Arena from a long road trip, and managed to get a 5-2 win against the Cowichan Capitals on Wednesday night.
Winners of five straight games, the Grizzlies have been involved in three game sets, two weekends in a row, and head back out for a two game swing in Duncan and Powell River this weekend.
Friday night’s rematch in Duncan, against the same Capitals, will be a big one for the Grizzlies to keep their momentum going.
“Coming back off of a very successful road trip, with three wins in a row, we were maybe not fully awake in the first period,” said Grizzlies veteran head coach Bill Bestwick. “After the first goal, where they went up 1-0, we were better.”
Not totally satisfied with his club’s effort, Bestwick conceded that “sometimes the first game back after a road trip, you may not be at your best.”
While Bestwick was not completely happy with the effort, he admitted the two points were satisfying.
“We got the win and are happy about that, and now we head out on the road for two more this weekend.”
Cowichan got single markers from Kyle Hosman and Jesse Neher, while the Grizzlies got two goals from Mark McLellan and single contributions from Myles Fitzgerald, Cole Pickup and Matt Martin.
At stake for the Grizzlies in this upcoming weekend is an opportunity for the club to remain the BCHL’s hottest team, and to extend its league leading road winning percentage.
The Grizz currently sit second overall in the sixteen team BCHL circuit, trailing the Powell River Kings by two points.
Bestwick likes the direction his club is heading in.
“When we are missing as many key players (several on any given night) as we are and with new players in the lineup, it is nice to be at a place where we are still able to get wins,” he said.
Nic Renyard got the win in net, turning aside 33 of 35 shots.
