LANGLEY 3
VICTORIA 2 (OT)
On a night the Victoria Grizzlies didn’t want to play extra hockey, they did just that Saturday at The Q Centre.
Playing with just 11 forwards due to a rash of injuries, the Grizzlies let the Langley Rivermen escape with two points as Ilya Rogovsky’s goal 4:30 into overtime gave the visitors a 3-2 victory in front of 810 disappointed fans at The Q Centre.
The Grizzlies’ forward group is looking more like a M.A.S.H. unit these days. Newly-acquired Alex Hebblethwaite is the latest addition to the Grizzlies’ injury list after leaving Friday’s game in the second period with a lower body injury.
And with veteran forwards Julian Cull, Tobias Pitka and Jacksenn Hungle already on the shelf, the Grizzlies (6-4-2-0) were forced to go a forward short Saturday. And it didn’t help that they ran into a brick wall in the Langley net as veteran Charlie Tritt made 57 saves to get the Rivermen (7-4-2-1) the win.
First-period goals from Easton Kovacs and Reegan Hiscock were the only pucks to get by Tritt, who hails from Vancouver.
The 19-year-old Langley netminder was a big reason the B.C. Hockey League’s No. 1-ranked power play was held off the scoresheet despite having the man-advantage seven times.
It was the Rivermen’s power play that sent the game to overtime, as Tyler Chan tipped a point shot past Tyler Hodges with eight minutes left in the third period that drew the visitors even.
Jack Bakker had the other Rivermen goal.
Hodges turned aside 26 Langley shots.
The Grizzlies now hit the road for three games beginning Wednesday night in Vernon against the Vipers. Then it’s north to Prince George for games Friday and Saturday against the Spruce Kings. Victoria’s next home game is Nov. 8 when the Alberni Valley Bulldogs pay a visit to The Q Centre.
