ALBERNI 2VICTORIA 1
It took a controversial no-goal call against the Victoria Grizzlies late in the second period to put some life into Saturday night鈥檚 sa国际传媒 Hockey League game in Port Alberni.
And everyone clutching a stuffed animal on Teddy Bear Toss night at Weyerhaeuser Arena breathed a sigh of relief.
After Eddie Yan鈥檚 goal was disallowed and Grizzlies winger Marty Weshaver was given a two-minute penalty and game misconduct for goaltender interference, Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon was ejected, strangley enough, just for the rest of the middle period for arguing the call.
Less than a minute later, the goals started coming, beginning with Mitch Deelstra鈥檚 Teddy Bear Toss goal that opened the scoring for Alberni and helped the home team skate away with a 2-1 victory.
The Grizzlies, playing without their five leading scorers 鈥� Alex Newhook, Alex Campbell, Riley Hughes, Carter Berger and Jeremie Bucheler 鈥� who are away at the World Junior A Challenge in Bonnyville, Alta., kept it close right to the end. Acting captain Ryan Nolan drew the visitors even, scoring on a breakaway just 20 seconds after Deelstra鈥檚 opener.
The Bulldogs (12-21-1-0) took the lead for good 6:34 into the third period when Austin Spiridakis was awarded a penalty shot and beat Grizzlies netminder Kyle Dumba.
Dumba finished with 32 saves, while John Hawthorne turned aside 27 Victoria shots.
The Grizzlies, who lost in regulation for the first time in five games, remain atop the Island Division standings at 22-11-0-2, now disperse for the Christmas break. Victoria returns to action on Dec. 29 when the Nanaimo Clippers pay a visit to The Q Centre.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Grizzlies鈥� game against the Powell River Kings originally scheduled for Dec. 30 has been rescheduled for Feb. 3 at noon at The Q Centre.
