The Victoria Grizzlies will no doubt be happy to get playing on home ice again.
The B.C. Hockey League squad, bumped out of its home at The Q Centre, first by the Mann Cup and then due to Monday’s Kraft Hockeyville game between the NHL’s Canucks and San Jose Sharks, dropped its latest two road games to fall to 0-3 on the season.
The Grizz lost a narrow 3-2 decision in Port Alberni on Saturday, one night after dropping a 4-2 game to the Clippers in Nanaimo.
The Bulldogs clung to a 2-1 lead in the third period of the second game before an empty-netter iced it for the home side with 31 seconds to go. The Grizzlies’ P.J. Conlon scored his second goal of the game to narrow the gap with six seconds left.
Mitchell Benson helped keep the Grizzlies in it, stopping 42 of 44 shots he faced. Kevin Massy set up both of Conlon’s goals.
Friday’s game also went down to the wire, thanks to a spirited comeback by the Grizzlies.
Nanaimo’s Sheldon Rempal gave his team a 3-0 lead when he scored on the power play in the first minute of the third period.
But Victoria rebounded with a power play goal of their own from Cole Pickup at 7:05. Alex Peck cut the margin to 3-2 at the 18:56 mark. With Grizzlies goalie Matthew Galajda pulled for an extra attacker, the Clippers ended the comeback hopes with an empty net goal at 19:53.
This weekend’s Bauer BCHL Showcase scouting event sees the Grizzlies take on host Chilliwack on Saturday, then play Prince George on Sunday in regular season games. Victoria hosts its home opener Oct. 1 against Coquitlam.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com