Thanks to their NHL drafted goaltender, the Wenatchee Wild played spoiler on Teddy Bear Toss night at The Q Centre on Saturday night, shutting out the Victoria Grizzlies 2-0.
Chase Perry, a 2014 fifth-round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings and headed to the NCAA and R.P.I. next season, made 24 saves to make sure the teddy bears stayed warm and comfortable in the laps of the 859 fans at The Q Centre. Fans had to settle for pelting the ice with Teddy Bears following the final buzzer as the Wild (20-9-3-2) halted the Grizzlies’ (13-18-0-4) modest win streak at two. It was the first time since 2011 the Grizzlies have been shut out on Teddy Bear Toss night.
“Maybe we were gripping the sticks a little too tight tonight [because of Teddy Bear Toss night], but you have to credit Wenatchee, too. They’re a fast team and tough to play against,” said Grizzlies captain P.J. Conlon. “But we had plenty of chances, just didn’t make the most of them.”
The Wild showed no ill effects from their 2-2 draw in Cowichan Valley the night before, using their speed and skill to win a back-and-forth, run-and-gun game against the Grizzlies.
The Wild survived a hectic second period which saw the Grizzlies pummel Perry with 12 shots, but Victoria drew nothing but blanks.
“At the end of the day, we had more quality scoring chances but they’re goalie had a really good night,” Grizzlies head coach and GM Craig Didmon said.
“I think around the net we were maybe squeezing the sticks too tight, and Teddy Bear Toss night will do that to you, especially as the game goes on.
“It’s unfortunate we couldn’t score for everyone who brought the bears, it would have been nice for the team and the fans.”
The visitors opened the scoring just two minutes into the opening frame when August VonUngern flipped a backhand over Grizzlies netminder Matthew Galajada. It was the first of two on the night for VonUngern, who is headed to Brown University next season on an NCAA scholarship.
The Grizzlies had numerous two-on-ones, even one shorthanded early in the second when Cody Van Lierop failed to convert.
“If we had scored early on one of those great chances it would have got the monkey off our back,” Didmon said. “Last year we scored 28 seconds in and it helps because as the game wore on tonight the guys got a little tight.”
There’s no time to dwell on the loss for the Grizzlies as they host the West Kelowna Warriors today at 2 p.m. The Warriors beat the Clippers 7-4 in Nanaimo on Saturday night.
“I liked our work ethic tonight, but we have to shake off the loss now and get ready for [today,]” said Didmon. “We’ve been good on back-to-backs this season so hopefully we can continue that.”
Galajda finished with 30 saves on the night.
LOOSE PUCKS: After today’s game, the Grizzlies are off until Thursday when they travel to Port Alberni to take on the Bulldogs.
