Photograph By BRUCE STOTESBURY, Times Colonist
Mario Annicchiarico / Times Colonist
SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 10:30 PM
VICTORIA 6
COWICHAN VALLEY 1
The Victoria Grizzlies’ early tour through the Island Division of the B.C. Hockey League continued on Tuesday, stealing an impressive 6-1 road win at the Island Savings Centre over the host Cowichan Valley Capitals.
It was the first loss for the Caps, who even their record at 1-1, while the Grizzlies remain perfect at 3-0 following one-goal home wins over Powell River (2-1) and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (5-4 in double overtime) over the weekend.
The result is a reversal from last season when the Grizzlies started with four straight losses.
“It was a good night, other than a short lull in the second period, the guys nearly played a full 60 minutes. They were ready to go from the hop,” said head coach and general manager Craig Didmon, who watched his No. 1 line of Tyler Welsh (one goal and four assists), Cole Pickup (two goals and two helpers) and Nathan Looysen (two goals and three assists) rack up 14 points on the evening.
“They just found the back of the net tonight and they hit a couple of posts as well. Their skill and speed showed tonight and we were waiting for them to break out,” added Didmon.
The Capitals defeated Powell River 4-2 on Saturday in their only previous outing, but Victoria jumped all over the hosts on Tuesday as Welsh struck on a power play just 2:45 in as he played tic-tac-toe with Pickup and Looysen.
Looysen, who had 101 points with the Victoria Cougars in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League last season, then made it 2-0 on another nice passing play between the trio at 8:08.
Keyvan Mokhtari recorded his second short-handed marker of the season at 15:11 of the first as he beat Capitals netminder Adam Marcoux (making his first start) upstairs. The Grizzlies peppered the Capitals, 14-7 in shots in the opening 20 minutes.
The Caps got on the scoreboard at 7:25 of the second as Darren Hards scored unassisted before Looysen notched his second of the evening and season. Pickup then struck for a pair late in the game.
Matthew Galajda made his second start in goal for the Grizzlies — having lost a shutout bid late in the win against Powell River — and stopped just 16 shots on Tuesday to improve to 2-0.
The Grizzlies will be back at home at The Q Centre on Friday at 7 p.m. against Surrey, with the Capitals venturing over the Malahat to Victoria on Saturday night to wrap up the weekend.
mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com
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