Grizzlies without top players, and host Vernon takes advantage

Minus three of their best players and facing the No. 1 team in the B.C. Hockey League suggested it could be the perfect recipe for disaster for the Victoria Grizzlies on Saturday, who held their own, but still fell 3-1 to the Vernon Vipers.

The buildup appeared to hold true early as the league-leading Vipers opened up a 3-0 lead 8:21 into the second period before the Grizzlies settled in defensively at Kal Tire Place.

Mitch Andres took just 4:09 into the game to get the hosts on the scoreboard. Niko Karamanis and Jagger Williamson added second-period markers for the Vipers, who improve to a league best 21-7-0-4 mark for 46 points. The Grizzlies slip to 14-12-3-1 overall and an even 8-8 record on the road.

Justin Michaelian notched the lone Victoria goal at 17:37 of the third period on a Grizzlies’ power play.

Minus starting goalie Zack Rose and forwards Jamie Rome and Alex Newhook, who are off at the World Junior A Hockey Challenge tryouts in Calgary, the Grizzlies faltered early before holding their own late.

Shawn Parkinson faced 27 shots in the Victoria net while Anthony Yamnitsky stopped 23 of 24 shots in the Vernon goal. Bryce Schiebel, of the Peninsula Panthers, backed up Parkinson in the Grizzlies net as he was called in as an affiliated player with Rose gone.

The Grizzlies now continue on to Coquitlam to face the basement-dwelling Express — who are a dismal 3-22-1-2 — this afternoon at 2 to wrap up the weekend trip.