Grizzlies put an end to losing skid

It took just 48 seconds for Shawn O’Malley to get the teddy bears flying on Saturday night as the Victoria Grizzlies forward beat Nanaimo Clippers goaltender Taz Burman to get the crowd going at The Q Centre.

It was a sign of things to come in a goal-filled B.C. Hockey League affair as the Grizzlies sank the Clippers 9-4 with Justin Michaelian, Ethan Nother and Matt Doran leading the way with two goals each. Doran added two helpers while Alex Newhook and Lucas Clark collected four and three assists, respectively.

Burman’s night was short-lived as he surrendered five goals on just 16 shots before he was pulled in favour of Noah Featherstonehaugh Gowe, down 5-2 midway through the game. The backup then allowed four goals on 28 shots.

The Grizzlies snapped a five-game losing skid, thanks to the quick start.

“It was good to get it right off the bat. I didn’t want to give any of the other guys a shot tonight,” a smiling O’Malley said of the teddy bear goal.

“We really needed that, a hot start. When you lose five in a row, it always helps to get a goal on the first shift.”

It snapped an ugly string of games for the locals, which included losses to two teams with the worst records in Coquitlam and Cowichan Valley.

“It’s nice to get it in front of a big teddy bear toss crowd, too,” O’Malley said of the much-needed victory.

Defencemen Carter Berger and Dayne Finnson each had a goal and an assist for the hosts who went 4-for-11 on the power play in a penalty-filled extravaganza. Victoria also had four 5-on-3 advantages.

Cal Babych and Brady Lynn snuck pucks behind newcomer Kurtis Chapman in the Victoria net as the first period ended 3-2 for the home side, the three Victoria goals coming on just seven shots. Hunor Torszok and Vincent Millette had the other Nanaimo goals.

The Grizzlies, now 15-14-3-1, face Island Division leading Powell River today at 1 p.m. at The Q Centre.

The Powell River Kings lost 4-2 at Cowichan Valley on Saturday to slip to 18-8-2-2, but do have three games in hand on Victoria. The Clippers fall to 16-12-3-2.

With Zack Rose gone to the World Jr. A Hockey Challenge in Nova Scotia, that meant Chapman earned his first win in two starts, making 28 saves.