There’s no tarnish on this crown.
The Penticton Vees — B.C. Hockey League royalty for many years — moved to 8-1 in the standings with a 5-3 victory over the Victoria Grizzlies on Wednesday in Chilliwack.
With the Grizzlies (5-2-1) off to a good start, the game was considered a marquee match-up of the annual BCHL Showcase, which brings together all the teams in a one-stop shopping forum for NHL and NCAA scouts.
“We played hard and lost to a good team. We’re a good team, too,” said Grizzlies GM and head coach Rylan Ferster.
Last season’s BCHL Showcase took place at the Kraken practice facility in Seattle and this year’s is taking place in Abbotsford and Chilliwack and co-hosted by the Vancouver Canucks with mascot Fin and Canucks alumni on hand along with Canucks in-game promotions and Canucks public-address announcer Al Murdoch.
“It’s a crazy atmosphere but a great opportunity for the players to play in front of all these scouts,” noted Ferster, before the game.
Ferster told his players to throw off the pressure of performing in front of the pro and college scouts and to just be themselves and play their games. Defenceman Drew Hockley, recently committed to NCAA Div. 1 Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, did just that as he continued his torrid offensive output from the blue-line for Victoria with a goal and assist to move his totals to seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in eight games.
But three consecutive goals to close out the game gave Penticton the victory. The tide turned on the short-handed goal by the Vees that tied it 3-3 in the third period.
“That hurt,” said Ferster, following the game.
“We fell apart after that. But you have to give the other team [Penticton] credit, too.”
Malcolm Green and Chase Pirtle had the other Grizzlies goals, while Reegan Hiscock chipped in two assists.
Arizona State Sun Devils-bound forward Conyr Hellyer, among the 19 Vees players already committed to NCAA Div. 1 scholarships this season, led Penticton with two goals and an assist. The Vees current total of NCAA Div. 1 commits is second in the BCHL only to the Brooks Bandits’ 21. Brooks (7-0) is among the five former Alberta Junior Hockey League teams absorbed into the BCHL last season and is now a clear threat to the Vees’ league dominance. The Grizzlies would like to think they are, too, but the loss to Penticton proved they have a ways to go, yet.
“We have to wash it off quickly,” said Ferster.
That’s because the next game for the Grizzlies at the Showcase comes this morning at 10 a.m. in Chilliwack against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
The Silverbacks (6-2-1) defeated the Nanaimo Clippers (3-5-1) by a 4-1 count in the Showcase on Wednesday. The Cowichan Valley Capitals (4-5) swept through the Showcase with two wins. The Alberni Valley Bulldogs (5-3-1) split their two games in Abbotsford. All Showcase games count in the standings.
