Grizzlies forward Matthew Wood gets past Bulldogs winger Brandon Buhr during BCHL action at The Q Centre. (DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST)
Cleve Dheensaw
The kid’s talent appears to be matching the hype.
Victoria Grizzlies rookie sensation Matthew Wood scored perhaps the goal of the season in the B.C. Hockey League on Friday night at The Q Centre. Wood stickhandled the puck between the legs of an Alberni Valley Bulldogs defenceman before shooting the puck between his own legs into the top of the net in the first period to show why at least one major media outlet has the six-foot-three Nanaimo native projected as a potential top-10 selection for the 2023 NHL draft. Wood, second in BCHL scoring, then gave writer Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, and other pundits, more to think about with a second goal on the night to raise his season total to 34.
“Matthew has proven himself in his rookie season and keeps getting better. He has worked hard to achieve this notice and deserves it,” said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon.
But Wood’s heroics weren’t enough as a very good Bulldogs team (26-12-4) skated to a 3-2 victory to drop the Grizzlies to 23-18 and force Victoria goaltender and game third-star Cole Schwebius into 29 saves. The Grizzlies have three of the league’s top-six scoring forwards and pressed hard, too, but NCAA Div. 1 North Dakota-bound Hobie Hedquist was up to the challenge and made 31 saves for Alberni Valley.
Matthew Maltais opened scoring in the first period for Alberni Valley before Wood’s flashy goal tied it. Maltais and NCAA Div. 1 Clarkson University-commit Brandon Buhr put the Bulldogs up by two in the second period before Wood pulled the Grizzlies back to within one.
The Grizzlies are in Nanaimo tonight to play the Clippers (25-14-2), 5-0 losers Friday night at Frank Crane Arena to the Chilliwack Chiefs. The Chiefs (24-13-3) are in Port Alberni tonight to play the Bulldogs and are at The Q Centre on Sunday for a matinee to complete their Island swing.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
