It was mission accomplished for the Victoria Grizzlies in their sa国际传媒 Hockey League season opener on Friday night, now the next task is to keep it going this afternoon when the Cowichan Valley Capitals come to The Q Centre for a matinee affair at 2 p.m.
On Friday, against the visiting Alberni Valley Bulldogs, the Grizzlies showed why they can be one of the top teams in the league, although it took a while to get there.
After a 50-minute delay due to the Bulldogs having transportation issues on the trip down, both teams started slowly, but in the second period, the Grizzlies came to life.
Victoria came away with a 6-2 victory, getting strong goaltending from veteran Carter Woodside, plenty of offence from their talented blue-line unit, and an impressive showing from their young star Matthew Wood. The 16-year-old Wood, who hails from Nanaimo, showed why he already has an NCAA Division 1 scholarship to the University of sa国际传媒icut and is highly touted for the 2023 NHL draft. He scored twice and added two assists to get his BCHL career off on the right foot.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a special talent, there鈥檚 no doubt about that,鈥� said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon.
鈥淗e鈥檚 got a ton of confidence and is surrounded by good players and they鈥檙e making some great plays, so he鈥檚 having success right now.鈥�
Didmon wasn鈥檛 surprised by the slow start.
鈥淭he long delay affected them, but once they got going and found their game everything started to click.鈥�
Wood鈥檚 great game was aided by a strong performance by linemate Connor Eddy, who scored shorthanded and added two assists. And the Grizzlies got offence from their defence. Blue-liners Declan Ride, Justin Gibson and Clark Hiebert all had goals.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e an offensive bunch we have and it showed,鈥� said Didmon. 鈥淭hey like to create plays from the back end and you like to see that as a coach.鈥�
It wasn鈥檛 all roses on Friday, though. Grizzlies captain Ellis Rickwood left early in their third period with an undisclosed injury and is doubtful for today鈥檚 game.
鈥淓llis just thought he couldn鈥檛 play at 100 per cent, so being early in the season we wanted to be very cautious and we鈥檒l see how he is [this] morning,鈥� said Didmon.
The Capitals opened their season Saturday night, hosting the Bulldogs. The Grizzlies faced them twice in the preseason and split the two games.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a team that works extremely hard so if you don鈥檛 match or better their intensity, you鈥檙e usually in trouble鈥� Didmon said.
LOOSE PUCKS: Following today鈥檚 game, the Grizzlies hit the road for two games. They鈥檒l be in Duncan on Wednesday night to face the Capitals and then visit Port Alberni on Friday night for a re-match with the Bulldogs.
