Trail Smoke Eaters tame Victoria Grizzlies

Cleve Dheensaw / Times Colonist
SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 10:14 PM

The Victoria Grizzlies ran into the B.C. Hockey League player of the week Sunday in Trail with a predictable outcome in a 6-2 loss.

Smoke Eaters forward Kent Johnson capped off his league player-of-the week performance with two goals and three points against the Grizzlies as the Port Moody product finished with 10 points in the Smokies’ four games last week.

The Grizzlies (3-4) fell behind early Sunday and trailed 4-1 after the first period in dropping their second consecutive game. Blake Wood, making his first start in a Grizzlies uniform since being acquired last week from the Nanaimo Clippers, let in four goals in the first 20 minutes before being replaced by Joe Howe.

Henri Schreifels and defenceman Nico Somerville scored the Victoria goals.

The Grizzlies will host the Powell River Kings in their home opener Saturday night at The Q Centre. The Kings sit atop the Island Division, along with the Cowichan Valley Capitals, at 5-2.

Johnson started his week with a pair of assists in his team’s 5-2 loss to the Powell River Kings on Wednesday, then was held off the scoresheet on Friday in a 3-1 defeat in Wenatchee against the Wild. He caught fire on Saturday, assisting on all five of Trail’s goals in their 5-1 victory over the West Kelowna Warriors.

Johnson has shot up the BCHL scoring race and is one off the league lead with 11 points in eight games.

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