The Victoria Grizzlies got their Family Weekend started on the right foot, even if parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters had to go over the Malahat to see the Grizzlies snap a two-game losing skid.
Goals a minute apart midway through the second period by Olivier Picard and Max Donohoe broke open a scoreless game and helped pave the way for a 5-0 Grizzlies victory over the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Friday night at the Cowichan Community Centre.
After back-to-back home losses to Chilliwack and Surrey, the Grizzlies stymied the Capitals at every turn and when Cowichan did create scoring chances, rookie netminder Oliver Auyeung-Ashton was there to shut the door. Auyeung-Ashton made 30 saves for his second shutout of the season and the 17-year-old from Coquitlam has suddenly cemented himself as Victoria’s No. 1 goaltender. Heading into Friday’s game, Auyeung-Ashton led the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Hockey League in goals-against average at 1.62 and save-percentage at .950.
Donohoe added his second of the season three minutes into the third period, Luc Pelletier chipped in an empty-netter and Picard added a late one to round out the scoring as the Grizzlies improved their record to 6-5-2-1. Lukas Renauld made 42 saves in a losing cause for the Capitals who fall to 4-9 on the season.
The Grizzlies now return home to The Q Centre for a pair of weekend games Saturday night against the Coastal Conference-leading Nanaimo Clippers and Sunday afternoon against the Trail Smoke Eaters.
LOOSE PUCKS: After this weekend the Grizzlies begin a stretch of five straight games on the road beginning Friday night at the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee against the Wild. … Twenty-year-old Grizzlies winger Owen Bohn secured an NCAA Div. 1 scholarship this week to Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
