March 25, 2019. Victoria, BC (ISN) – With the threat of their 2018-2019 season to end, the Victoria Grizzlies saved some of their best playoff hockey for a game seven, 6-1 win over the Powell River Kings Monday night, advancing to a round three, semi-final series of the BCHL playoffs.
The Grizzlies starting goaltender Kurtis Chapman would turn aside 27/28 shots to backstop Victoria to the win in front of a recorded 1892 cheering fans as the Grizzlies dominated from the opening puck drop to the final horn. Victoria would pepper Kings goalie Mitch Adamyk forty-six shots on net, beating him six times, many with Grizzly traffic in front of the crease.
Carter Berger would open the scoring six minutes into the game with a power play marker to bring their fans out of their seats as Berger would score his fifth of the post season to break the ice in a series that had been less than decisive for either side until Monday evening’s offensive outburst. Victoria’s Marty Westhaver would score his first of two goals in the game three minutes after Berger on assists from Kenny Johnson and Jordan Guiney to jump out to a 2-0 lead to set back the visiting Kings at the first intermission.
Grizzlies’ Riley Hughes, averaging better than one assist per game (15), would turn his sights to scoring with a shot that would beat Adamyk to give Hughes his 2nd goal of the playoffs midway through the second frame. Hughes, named BCHL Player of the Week earlier Monday morning, would be shut out from post game ‘Player Stars of the Game” accolades after finishing the game with one goal and two assists.
Powell River, anemic at the Grizzly net in a game that would just as important for one teams’ golf game as the other’s continued playoff run, would finally find the back of the Victoria net with a Neal Samanski shot to beat Chapman glove side unassisted.
The Grizzlies, feeling a win in hand, would keep the offensive pressure on Powell River, beating Adamyk three times in the final period to turn aside any hopes of a comeback for Powell River.
Victoria’s captain Alex Newhook, scoring his ninth goal of the “second season” would tally a power play marker after the King’s Neal Semanski would take an ill-advised slashing penalty to give the Grizzlies a firm hold of the game with a three goal lead half way through the third period.
Victoria’s power play would prove dangerous all game. The Grizzlies scoring three powerplay markers on four short-player advantages may be the talked about difference in the game.
Marty Westhaver, following in teammate Newhook’s example, would score his second goal of the game one minute later beating Adamyk blocker side to put the game away with an unrecoverable 5-1 lead. Nico Somerville would score the game’s final goal on the power play after Powell River’s Kyle Pow would be sent to the penalty box for cross checking. With Somerville’s goal, the Grizzlies close out the series with a dominating 6-1 performance.
Marty Westhaver (1st), Carter Berger (2nd), and Alex Newhook (3rd) would be named the night’s three stars of the game.
The Grizzlies now will have a few days to rest before they travel to Prince George to take on the Spruce Kings. The Spruce Kings, finishing first in their Mainland division, regular season play, have sat idle for three games after dispatching the Chilliwack Chiefs in four straight games.
