Oliver Auyeung-Ashton comes from a film-industry background with an uncle who is a director and five family members who are stunt doubles. But Auyeung-Ashton does all his own stunts in the crease and he performs them well as the Victoria Grizzlies rookie was named BCHL goaltender of the week with a downright stingy .983 save percentage, and one shutout, after allowing only one goal on 59 shots in two Grizzlies victories over the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
The 17-year-old revelation from Coquitlam was also named to the Coastal Conference team for the B.C. Hockey League 3-on-3 outdoor All-Star Tournament Jan. 21 in Penticton.
“This season has been a surreal experience so far,” he said. “I was nervous about the transition to junior.”
He need not have been and has shown composure beyond his years.
Auyeung-Ashton jumped to junior after backstopping the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs to the B.C. Elite League U-18 Triple-A championship last season, and the first victory in nine years by a B.C. team in the cross-over championship series against the Alberta U-18 Triple-A champions, and played in the 2022 Telus Cup national U-18 championship.
“That added confidence and got me used to playing under pressure,” he said.
Auyeung-Ashton leads the BCHL with a .937 save percentage, is second in shutouts with three and is fourth in goals-against average at 2.07 in 16 appearances.
“I have to credit my Grizzlies teammates,” he said.
“We have a great defensive-minded team and that has helped with my stats. And Ansel Holt [the other Grizzlies goaltender] really pushes me in practice.”
At five-foot-10 and 162-pounds, Auyeung-Ashton is trying to dispel the notion that pro scouts will not look at a goaltender who is under six-foot-one in height.
“I’m a smaller goalie but I make good reads and feel I am efficient, technical and can play the puck,” he said.
He pointed to Calgary Flames prospect Dustin Wolf, former WHL Everett Silvertips and U.S. world junior championship goaltender, who is six-feet tall and last season was named AHL goalie of the year in the pros.
But it’s first things first. Auyeung-Ashton’s immediate ambition is to become the ninth Grizzlies player this season to earn an NCAA Div. 1 athletic scholarship. Hoyt Stanley this week became the eighth when the 2023 NHL draft-ranked blue-liner announced he will be going to the Cornell Big Red of the Ivy League. The others are Nathan King (Merrimack), 2022 NHL draft pick Eli Barnett (Vermont), Jack Gorton and Tim Busconi (both Boston University), Luc Pelletier (Princeton), Ansel Holt (Army) and Owen Bohn (Augustana).
Auyeung-Ashton should now be coming onto the radar of NCAA teams.
“I’ll see what happens,” he said
If he gets there, he won’t have any trouble settling into the classroom, with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in high school.
Auyeung-Ashton and the Grizzlies (9-10-3) are in Port Alberni on Friday night to play the Bulldogs (9-10-2) and host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (12-8-2) on Saturday night at The Q Centre where it’s the annual Teddy Bear Toss game.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
