The Victoria Grizzlies shook off all sorts of rust, and travel dust, to record a 3-1 sa国际传媒 Hockey League victory over the Nanaimo Clippers on Wednesday night at Frank Crane Arena in the Harbour City.
Goaltender Zack Rose, who only returned from off-season shoulder surgery late last month, made his third start and recorded his first victory of the season with a stellar 31-save performance.
Meanwhile, it was a road game and then some for three Grizzlies players. Alex Newhook, Alex Campbell and Jeremie Bucheler took part in the CJHL Top Prospects game Tuesday night in Okotoks, Alta., 鈥� with blue-liner Bucheler scoring and Newhook and Campbell picking up an assist each in Team West鈥檚 5-2 victory over Team East before more than 200 pro and college scouts 鈥� and then made it from Alberta to Nanaimo in time for the Grizzlies game.
It was part of a big week for the trio after Central Scouting released its mid-term rankings among North American skaters for the 2019 NHL draft with Newhook ranked No. 16, Campbell No. 42 and Bucheler No. 113 along with Grizzlies defenceman Carter Berger at No. 181.
It was the more-rested Berger, who didn鈥檛 play in the Top Prospects event, who opened scoring Wednesday at 14:22 of the first period on assists from Campbell and 2018 New York Rangers draft pick Riley Hughes. It was was the NCAA UConn-bound Berger鈥檚 24th goal of the season, which is tops among BCHL blue-liners.
Ivy League-bound MacKenzie Merriman, committed to Princeton of the NCAA, levelled 1-1 for Nanaimo on the power play at 2:19 of the third period.
The Grizzlies used their secondary scoring depth for the winning goal as rookie Stephen Konroyd scored at 13:19. Veteran rearguard Nico Somerville clinched the deal with a rink-length empty-net goal with five seconds remaining.
The Grizzlies moved to 28-15-2 overall and jumped one point ahead of the Powell River Kings (28-16-1) atop the Island Division.
The Clippers, meanwhile, have lost five consecutive games following a 10-game winning streak in dipping below .500 at 22-23.
Landon Pavlison made 25 saves in goal for Nanaimo.
