A pair of B.C. Hockey League heavyweights went toe-to-toe Saturday night at Bear Mountain Arena.
The Powell River Kings were the last men standing, landing a couple of quick haymakers in a 5-2 victory over the Victoria Grizzlies, which propelled the visitors into first place overall in the league.
The Kings leap over the Grizzlies in the standings and have two games in hand on their Island Division foes.
Victoria — 28-11-3-2 — began the night alone in top spot, but is now a point in arrears to the Kings and tied with Langley for second overall, a point up on Penticton.
The Grizzlies will entertain West Kelowna on Friday and Langley next Sunday afternoon, two more tough challenges, just like they had this weekend after Victoria defeated Prince George 6-5 on Friday.
On Saturday, the Grizzlies were stunned early.
First, Drew Dorantes jumped on a loose puck just 1:15 into the game as Grizzlies goaltender Alec Dillon was knocked over and out of position when Dorantes buried an easy one into a gaping net.
Brendyn Smith then made it 2-0 just 43 seconds later as the Kings came out quickly on the Grizzlies, who didn’t have much fight in the opening 10 minutes.
“We never recovered from that,” said Grizzlies head coach Craig Didmon. “I thought we were the better team for a lot of the game, but unfortunately that doesn’t get you two points.”
The Grizzlies awoke from their gentle slumber when Gerry Fitzgerald batted one out of the air, from a fair distance, and it snuck through Powell River goalie Jeff Smith at 10:29 of the first.
Jarryd Leung made it 3-1 Kings at 2:22 of the second before Storm Wahlrab scored a short-handed beauty on a toe drag move between his legs at 11:22 of the middle frame for Victoria. Dillon stopped Dorantes on a penalty shot four minutes later as the Kings took the 3-2 lead into the intermission.
However, Luke Nogard and Dorantes (empty-netter) added late goals for Powell River, which was out-shot 38-28.
“Their fourth goal probably should have been a penalty on what was a missed call, but that’s hockey,” said Didmon of a Nogard hit on Chris Albertini that went undetected. “Instead of us being on a power play, they’re up by two.”
The bad start was costly, though, as the Grizzlies — playing their third game in four nights — weren’t sharp.
mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com
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