The veteran Victoria Grizzlies鈥� winger began the evening tied for the sa国际传媒 Hockey League lead in points with six in three games and added to that with two goals and an assist in a 3-1 victory over the visiting Surrey Eagles at The Q Centre.
Pickup had a goal and a helper in the first 10 minutes of play as the Grizzlies extended their win streak at the start of the season to four games. They will try to stretch it to 5-0 tonight at 7 against the visiting Cowichan Valley Capitals.
鈥淚t starts with the players I鈥檓 playing with. Not just with my linemates Welshie [Tyler Welsh] and Loys [Nathan Looysen]. It includes the others, like the defencemen pushing the puck up, getting the puck on our sticks and making my job easy,鈥� said Pickup, who was also stopped on a penalty shot with 3:53 to go in the game.
Of Pickup鈥檚 nine points (five goals and four assists) in four games, one goal and three assists have come off power-play situations, which is a good sign for the Grizzlies who struggled in that category last year.
First-year defenceman Dayne Finnson opened the scoring with a power-play effort at 7:02 of the first period before Pickup buried a breakaway between Surrey netminder Daniel Davidson鈥檚 legs just 2:48 later.
Finnson also assisted on Pickup鈥檚 goal and Looysen had helpers on both first-period markers as he moves up the point leaders standings (two goals and five assists). The Grizzlies were out-shot 16-5 in the opening 20 minutes, but led 2-0.
Pickup then picked up his own rebound 5:19 into the second to make it 3-0.
The Eagles peppered Grizzlies goaltender Mitchel Benson again in the second and finally solved him on their 30th shot, a breakaway by Mitchell Williams at 19:03 of the second. Benson made 35 saves in total to be named the first star ahead of Pickup.
鈥淐ole was the best player on the ice, no question, and he made an emotional speech for the Navarette family before the game,鈥� said general manager and head coach Craig Didmon. 鈥淗e was dominant in that first period. He鈥檚 a great leader for us and being at the top of the league [in points], there鈥檚 a reason why.鈥�
The Grizzlies dedicated the game to Carter Navarette, the young man who had played minor hockey in Sooke who lost his life in a recent car crash. Carter had played for Didmon for three of his last four seasons. His family and former teammates were on hand and took part in the ceremonial face-off.
IN THE DEN: Nick Guiney left the game on a crushing hit with his head down midway through the game.
