Garret James Photography
Cleve Dheensaw
Victoria Grizzlies head coach and GM Craig Didmon said he doesn’t buy into the notion of trap games or statement games. But pundits might observe his club experienced both on the Lower Mainland over the weekend in B.C. Hockey League play.
A 3-1 upset loss to the lowly Express (10-20-4) in Coquitlam was followed by a 4-1 victory in Chilliwack against the annual power Chiefs (21-12-2) and a 7-2 win Sunday in Langley against the Coastal Conference-leading Rivermen (25-9-3).
“The guys decided to buckle down after that Coquitlam game and show how well they can play,” said Didmon.
“We got a sense of that with our performances against a Chilliwack club that is always strong and then against the conference leaders in Langley. The guys know we better start getting points for the standings because we’re getting to the part of the season where every game matters.”
Clark Hiebert had a goal and three assists and Matthew Wood a goal and two assists Sunday for Victoria against the Rivermen. Connor Eddy and blue-liner Isack Bandu each put up a goal and assist with NCAA Div. 1 Northern Michigan commit Bandu named first star of the game. Noah Leibl, Luc Pelletier and NCAA Ivy League Yale-bound Kalen Szeto scored the other goals in the Grizzlies’ well-distributed offence in Langley.
“Our depth showed in the final two games of the weekend with four lines scoring and us being able to roll three sets on defence,” said Didmon.
That becomes important this time of year when the games get heavier and more muscular.
“Guys like Michael Hoekstra and Luc Pelletier are big bodies and really contributed,” said Didmon.
Rookie forward Wood, also a presence at six-foot-three, moved to within two points of BCHL points-leader Simon Tassy of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Wood, touted for the 2023 NHL draft, is on 59 points to Tassy’s 61 despite having played six fewer games than Tassy due to Wood having Canada U-17 duties. Both are tied atop the BCHL goals lead with 31 each. Wood, however, leads the league by a wide margin in points-per-game average at 1.97.
Kyle Kelsey made 25 saves for the win over the Rivermen while Victoria put 43 shots on Langley’s Ajeet Gundarah.
The Rivermen get another crack at the Grizzlies (21-17) on Friday night, this time in The Q Centre. The Express skate into The Q Centre on Saturday evening.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
