Victoria Grizzlies’ top line brings Coquitlam Express to a halt

Grizzlies forward Cam Thompson breaks past Express forward Jack Cameron at The Q Centre on Friday. Photograph By DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST
Cleve Dheensaw / Times Colonist
NOVEMBER 30, 2018 10:11 PM

The Fabulous Five was all that and more Friday night in a 10-6 Victoria Grizzlies victory over the Coquitlam Express at The Q Centre.

B.C. Hockey League scoring leader Alex Newhook had two goals on a seven-point night, New York Rangers draft-pick Riley Hughes three goals on a five-point evening, Alex Campbell two goals in a five-point outing and defenceman Jeremie Bucheler a goal and an assist.

They showed why, along with Grizzlies blue-liner Carter Berger, they are headed to the Team Canada West selection camp beginning Monday in Calgary for the 2018 World Junior A Challenge next month in Bonnyville, Alta., which will also feature Team Canada East, Russia, Czech Republic and the U.S.

Newhook and Campbell are cited by Central Scouting for the 2019 NHL draft, with Newhook projected for the top half of the first round and Campbell for the fourth to seventh rounds.

Along with Hughes, they were simply too much offence for the Express (15-12-1) to contain as the Grizzlies unleashed an onslaught to show why they are the highest-scoring team in the BCHL.

Trailing 4-1 midway through the second period, the Grizzlies rallied to tie matters 4-4, before letting the Express off the hook with two late-period goals as Coquitlam went into the second break leading 6-4. But six unanswered third-period goals by Victoria buried the Express under a hail of rubber. Also scoring for the Grizzlies was Darwin Lakoduk and Marty Westhaver.

Jack Cameron, Connor Gregga, Alex DiPaolo, Chase Danol, Pito Walton and Danny Pearson scored for Coquitlam.

Newhook, Campbell, Hughes, Berger and Bucheler will play Sunday afternoon when the Grizzlies (20-9-1) host West Kelowna, before departing the next morning for Calgary.

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