Needing a win after Friday night’s season-opening loss in Surrey, Victoria Grizzlies head coach Ryland Ferster went right back to his No. 1 goaltender on Saturday in Chilliwack, and the move paid off.
ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Hockey League rookie-of-the-year and goaltender-of-the-year finalist Oliver Auyeung-Ashton made 30 saves, including 10 in the third period, to lead the Grizzlies to a 4-3 victory over the Chiefs at the Chilliwack Coliseum.
After Brian Morse beat Auyeung-Ashton just 1:23 into the opening period, the Grizzlies’ offence got going with Ryan Watt and Jacksenn Hungle giving Victoria a 2-1 lead at the first intermission.
Mateo Mrsic tied it for the Chiefs, who were coming off a season-opening win over Langley on Friday, six minutes into the second period, and after Anthony Carone for the Grizzlies and Nathan Morin for the Chiefs traded goals 20 seconds apart in the middle period, rookie Oliver Genest buried a nice feed from Watt with two minutes left in the second to give the Grizzlies the lead for good. Patrick Murphy added a pair of assists for the Grizzlies.
The next game action for the Grizzlies is Friday when they head to Powell River to take on the Kings. Victoria’s home opener goes Oct. 1 when they play host to the Cowichan Valley Capitals at The Q Centre.
LOOSE PUCKS: The BCHL board of governors on Friday approved the sale of the Capitals to Island Capitals Sports & Entertainment. The group, led by managing partner John Dewar and former NHLer Clayton Stoner, purchased the team from former Cowichan Valley owner Ray Zhang.
