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Zack Rose鈥檚 goals-against average going into Friday鈥檚 sa国际传媒 Hockey League game 鈥� 3.20 鈥� was nothing to write home to Newfoundland about.
But that number is trending downward thanks to games like Friday night鈥檚 2-2 double overtime tie with the red-hot Nanaimo Clippers at The Q Centre.
Rose, from Paradise, N.L., turned aside 30 of the 32 shots he faced helping the Grizzlies (13-9-3-1) remain one point back of the Clippers (13-9-4-1) and two back of the Island Division-leading Powell River Kings.
Rose, an 18-year-old rookie, went toe-to-toe with one of the best in the league in Clippers netminder, 20-year-old former Western Hockey League goalie Taz Burman. And if not for some bad luck by the Grizzlies鈥� forwards in overtime 鈥� three goalposts 鈥� the rookie would have knocked off the veteran. Burman made 48 saves.
鈥淶ack has been great all year,鈥� said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon.
鈥淗e鈥檚 had one or two rough ones early on or that goals-against [average] would be lower. And he was good again tonight.鈥�
Burman, who actually lowered his league-leading 2.02 GAA, joined the Clippers last month from the WHL and he likely had his busiest five-minute stretch in the three-on-three double OT on Friday. T.J. Freidmann, Jamie Rome and Ethan Nother all hit goalposts in the final three minutes.
Penalty trouble for the Grizzlies kept the game close for the first 40 minutes as Victoria killed off five Nanaimo power plays in the first 40 minutes.
And entering the third, it looked like Alex Newhook鈥檚 late first-period marker would stand up. But midway through the period both teams cranked it up.
David Silye broke Rose鈥檚 shutout bid at the nine minute mark, but 45 seconds later, Justin Michaelian restored the Grizzlies鈥� lead with the game鈥檚 only power-play marker. Just 40 seconds after that, Lucas Vanroboys struck again for Nanaimo, setting up a thrilling back-and-forth overtime that saw the Grizzlies pound Burman with nine shots in the five-minute three-on-three.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 get much puck luck at the end, but we let them hang around and hang around and that usually comes back to haunt you,鈥� Didmon said. 鈥淭hose early penalties stunted our offence, no question.鈥�
Rose鈥檚 recent hot play 鈥� he beat division-leading Powell River last Saturday 鈥� is also starting to turn heads at Hockey sa国际传媒. The 18-year-old, who came to Victoria via Lake Forest Academy near Chicago, was one of three Grizzlies named this week to the Team sa国际传媒 West tryout camp for next month鈥檚 World Junior A Challenge.
鈥淚 think that selection was a good confidence boost for him,鈥� added Didmon. 鈥淎nd you saw that with the way he played tonight.鈥�
Nanaimo got at least a point for the 10th consecutive game.
The Grizzlies get today off before hosting Alberni Valley on Sunday. The Clippers play host to the Bulldogs tonight.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Grizzlies were again without injured defenceman Drayson Pears and winger Ryan Nolan, who was serving the third of a four-game suspension. . . . Following Sunday鈥檚 game, the Grizzlies are back home Tuesday, playing host to Powell River.l
