Grizzlies go down in overtime

All things asphalt considered, the Victoria Grizzlies are likely happy to have three of a possible four points out of their travel adventure through the Interior.

Zach Metsa scored at 27 seconds of overtime to give the Merritt Centennials a 3-2 B.C. Hockey League victory over the Grizzlies before 524 fans at the infamously cramped Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.

The Grizzlies (19-5-6) began the road trip on Friday in Prince George with a 4-1 victory over the Spruce Kings, despite travel issues getting up north.

Defenceman Jake Stevens, headed next season to St. Lawrence of the NCAA, scored his fourth goal of the season just 1:46 into the game to get Victoria off to an early start in Merritt on Saturday.

Zach Risteau levelled for the Centennials (12-12-6) at 15:17 of the second period.

Zachary Zorn put Merritt into the lead at 9:26 of the third period before Keyvan Mokhtari of the Grizzlies sent the game to overtime with a late goal at 18:16.

NCAA Cornell-bound goaltender Matthew Galajda made 26 saves for Victoria in being named third star behind Metsa and Merritt goaltender Jacob Berger, who made 35 saves.

The Grizzlies continue their tire-bursting three-games-in-three-days road odyssey today against the Lower Mainland bottomdwelling Coquitlam Express (6-22-3).

“The travel is a challenge,” said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon after Friday's game in Prince George.

“But we’re in a good frame of mind right now with our play, and we’ve got to keep that.”

ICE CHIPS: Tony Rehm gets the start in goal today for the Grizzlies in Coquitlam. Galajda will be dropped off at Vancouver airport before the game. He is headed out to be among the 25 BCHL players at the 60-player Canada West tryout camp, beginning Monday in Leduc, Alta., for the 2016 World Junior A Challenge taking place Dec. 11-17 in Bonnyville, Alta . . . . The Victoria-Merritt match-up Saturday was a reprise of the 2001 BCHL final, won by Victoria in seven games.