Grizzlies beaten as Vees show their pedigree

The Penticton Vees have played the fewest number of games in the B.C. Hockey League, but the Victoria Grizzlies found out on Saturday night why the Vees, with 16 players committed to NCAA schools, are again the top team in the league.

The Vees, with three players who are sons of former NHL players, scored the first two goals and cruised to a 4-2 win, much to the delight of the 3,078 in attendance at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Lukas Sillinger, son of former NHLer Mike Sillinger, opened the scoring six minutes into the game. That was followed three minutes later by a goal from Grant Cruikshank.

Justin Michaelian, with his teamleading eighth of the season, got the Grizzlies on the board midway through the first period, converting a 2-on-1 feed from Alex Newhook.

That was the lone bright spot for Victoria, as the Vees outshot the Grizzlies 33-21.

The Grizzlies made a brief push in the second period, but midway through the frame, goaltender Zack Rose went to stop the puck behind the net and fell, leaving Dakota Boutin with an emptynet to score on, giving the Vees a 3-1 lead. Lucas Clark got one back for Victoria four minutes into the third. Chris Klack had the other Penticton goal.

Penticton, yet to lose this season, improved its record to 8-0-1, while the Grizzlies drop to 7-5.

The Grizzlies now make the trek to South Surrey to face the Eagles at 4 p.m. today. Victoria then returns home to face the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Wednesday night at The Q Centre. LOOSE PUCKS: Grizzlies blue-liner Matt Doran missed Saturday’s game with an illness . . . . The other Vees with dads who played in the NHL are Jackson Keane (Mike) and Jack Barnes (Stu).