Grizzlies battle Vipers in home opener
>B7
There’s something about ‘openers’ that doesn’t agree with the Victoria Grizzlies.
Four weeks ago in Powell River, the Grizzlies came up with a stinker in their B.C. Hockey League season opener, losing 8-1 to the Kings. On Friday night at The Q Centre — in their home opener — the Grizzlies were beaten again, this time 5-2 by the visiting Vernon Vipers. The score flattered the home team as the Vipers outshot the Grizzlies 35-24.
“We were full of energy, but not full of thought and intelligence and that causes gaps in your game and you make mistakes and against a good team, they make you pay for those mistakes,” said Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon, whose club drops to 4-3 on the season.
“And credit Vernon. They’re a real good hockey club and if you’re not perfect, you’re likely not going to beat them.”
The Vipers (5-1-1), with former Grizzlies speedster Keyvan Mokhtari in the lineup, took the game to the Grizzlies right from the start, outshooting Victoria 19-3 in the opening 20 minutes. The Grizzlies’ defence had problems with the Vipers’ quick forecheck as the first two Vernon goals were a result of turnovers by Grizzlies’ blue-liners. Jordan Sandhu began the scoring, gathering a turnover in the corner and firing high over Grizzlies netminder Zack Rose. A Justin Michaelian goal, off a great feed from Grizzlies high-scoring rookie Alex Newhook, just a minute later brought the home crowd of 1,035 to life. But not for long.
Vipers forward Tanner Wishnowski jumped on another turnover deep in the Grizzlies’ zone at the 5:35 mark and Rose again had no chance. And to put the Grizzlies in a hole they couldn’t get out of, Vernon’s power play went to work in the final minute of the period with University of Alaska-Fairbanksbound Chris Jandric beating Rose from the slot with just 25 seconds left in the first period.
“We have some young guys in big positions and at times they’re going to make mistakes at key parts of the game, but that’s something we’re going to have to be patient with,” said Didmon.
The 16-year-old Newhook, who was third in the league in scoring with a goal and nine assists heading into the night, picked up the one assist, but was held in check most of the night by a stingy Vipers blue line.
“The defence was playing me up a lot and their whole group back there had a solid game so it was tough. Give them credit,” said Newhook, who is committed to Boston College of the NCAA for the fall of 2019.
T.J. Friedmann tallied on a Grizzlies’ power play eight minutes into the second period to give the home team a spark. But with 20 seconds left in the middle frame, Josh Prokop snuck one past Rose from a bad angle and that spelled the end for the Grizzlies.
“That 4-2 goal was a bit of a killer because we were coming on that period,” said Didmon. “So we didn’t get the bounces either and then a good team didn’t let us back in it.”
Michael Young rounded out the Vipers’ scoring with a power-play marker at the 7:01 mark of the third.
Mokhtari, in his first visit to Victoria since the off-season trade, was held without a point.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Grizzlies as they play host to the Langley Rivermen tonight at 7 at The Q Centre.