VICTORIA 5 COQUITLAM 1
Alex Hebblethwaite has finally found a home in the B.C. Hockey League — with the Victoria Grizzlies and on a new-look line.
Hebblethwaite, who was with the Grizzlies in preseason and then traded to Trail — who shipped him to the Nanaimo Clippers before the Grizzlies re-acquired the 19-year-old from Burlington, Ont., last month — has goals in two straight games and a three-point night on Saturday to help lead the Grizzlies to 5-1 victory over the Coquitlam Express in front of 1,385 fans on Military Appreciation Night at The Q Centre.
Hebblethwaite, who is NCAA committed to Rochester Institute of Technology, got the Grizzlies going Saturday, scoring Victoria’s first goal — his 10th of the season — with six minutes left in the opening period that drew the home team even after Express defenceman David Brandes had opened the scoring on a power play midway through the frame.
Looking to ignite the team’s offence in the second period, Grizzlies GM and head coach Rylan Ferster shook up his lines and Hebblethwaite found himself playing along side speedy playmaker Tom Molson and hard-nosed centre Seamus Latta and the three quickly went to work to give the Grizzlies the lead.
After a lengthy shift in the Express end, Hebblethwaite and Latta combined to set up Molson in front of the net and the Yale-committ made no mistake burying it past Eric Young in the Coquitlam net just 3:30 into the middle period.
Two minutes later, Hebblethwaite was at it again, this time setting up captain Jacksenn Hungle for a one-timer at the side of the net on a Grizzlies’ power play that gave the home team some breathing room.
Montreal native Molson, who is NCAA committed to Yale University, got his second of the game on a Grizzlies’ power play midway the third period, and then defenceman Easton Kovacs rounded out the scoring with an empty-net goal with 1:52 to play.
Coquitlam (12-7-2-1), which came into the game tied with the Victoria (13-5-3-0) for third place in the Coastal Conference, were coming off a loss in Duncan on Friday to the Cowichan Valley Capitals and outshot the Grizzlies 42-36.
But veteran netminder Kyle Kelsey, making just his second start for the Grizzlies since signing with the team two weeks ago out of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, locked it down in the final two periods, stopping all 14 shots in the final frame.
The Grizzlies’ three-game home stand wraps up next Friday when Victoria hosts the Chilliwack Chiefs at The Q Centre.
Then the Grizzlies head to Duncan on Saturday to take on the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Grizzlies were weaing special Military-themed blue jerseys Saturday and the uniforms will be auctioned off to raise money for the Military Family Resource Centre. The auction is online until Dec. 1 at victoriagrizzlies.com.
