Brian Drewry / Times Colonist
FEBRUARY 9, 2019 10:17 PM
VICTORIA 4
WENATCHEE 1
It was Help Fill a Dream Night at The Q Centre on Saturday and the Victoria Grizzlies also helped themselves to a big two points against the defending B.C. Hockey League champions.
Wearing and then auctioning off orange and black third jerseys to help raise funds for the Help Fill a Dream Foundation, the Grizzlies got the festive atmosphere at The Q started early with two goals in the first eight minutes en route to a 4-1 victory over the Wenatchee Wild.
Grizzlies captain Alex Newhook converted a nice feed from 2018 New York Rangers draft pick Riley Hughes on a 2-on-1.
Four minutes later, it was Cam Thompson tapping in a cross-crease pass from Kyle McGrath as the Grizzlies had a 10-1 shots advantage midway through the opening period as they bounced back from a shootout loss to Cowichan Valley on Thursday.
“I loved the way we came out tonight,” said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon.
“I know the guys had a little bit of a sour taste in their mouths from the way Thursday’s game ended and they really wanted to rebound from that and it was nice to help out Help Fill a Dream.”
The only Wild goal came with 1.2 seconds left in the first when Chad Sasaki poked one past Kurtis Chapman in the Grizzlies’ net.
The Grizzlies wasted little time answering that as just 17 seconds into the third, Kyle McGrath finished off a nifty tick-tack-toe with Newhook and defenceman Brady MacDonald.
Henri Schreifels rounded out the scoring, one-timing a pass from Nico Somerville with seven minutes left in regulation.
The victory allowed the Grizzlies (32-16-0-4) to widen their lead atop the Island Division to five points over the Powell River Kings, who had their game on Saturday against West Kelowna postponed after several ferry cancellations kept the Warriors from making the trek across the water.
The Wild (28-19-2-4) remain in third place in the Interior Division.
The Grizzlies now turn their attention to Merritt as the Centennials, who beat the Clippers 5-3 in Nanaimo on Saturday, visit The Q Centre today for a 4 p.m. game, which will be preceded by a game at 1 p.m. between the Firefighters and Montreal Canadiens Alumni.
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