From: Victoria Times-Colonistby Sharie Epp
There was supposed to be a dream match-up of three highly rated DU recruits in Victoria, British Columbia last night, but two of the three combatants never saw the ice. Nanaimo Clippers stars Kyle Ostrow didn't play because he's at the World Junior A Challenge in Saskatchewan and goaltender Marc "Chevy" Cheverie wasn't in the net due to the goalie rotation. That left DU's newest recruit and BCHL's leading scorer to steal the show.
.With DU recruit Tyler Bozak at the helm, the Victoria Grizzlies fought their way out of a 3-0 hole, and beat their favourite foes, the Nanaimo Clippers, 5-4 in double overtime at Bear Mountain Arena last night.
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"The room's pretty happy right now, said Bozak, who notched the winner at 1:32 of three-on-three OT, after also scoring the tying goal eight seconds into the third period.
"The room's pretty happy right now, said Bozak, who notched the winner at 1:32 of three-on-three OT, after also scoring the tying goal eight seconds into the third period.
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The Grizzlies, stuck the first blow in a heated rivalry that's bound to do nothing but get hotter. Both ranked among Canada's top five, the teams -- Victoria leads the league with a record 18-2-0-1, while Nanaimo is at 14-2-0-2 -- were facing each other for the first time this season, and won't see each again until January.
The Grizzlies, stuck the first blow in a heated rivalry that's bound to do nothing but get hotter. Both ranked among Canada's top five, the teams -- Victoria leads the league with a record 18-2-0-1, while Nanaimo is at 14-2-0-2 -- were facing each other for the first time this season, and won't see each again until January.
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Initially, the game looked like it was going to be anything but close. The Grizzlies, in the unaccustomed position of being ahead of the Clippers in the standings, stormed out of the gate, and completely controlled the play, outshooting the visitors 8-0. Nanaimo barely got across the centre stripe, until 6:31 of the first period, when Shawn Overton made their first shot count. Warmed up, the Clippers hard-working reputation kicked in. They killed off more than a minute of a two-man Victoria power play, and took a 1-0 lead to the first break.
Initially, the game looked like it was going to be anything but close. The Grizzlies, in the unaccustomed position of being ahead of the Clippers in the standings, stormed out of the gate, and completely controlled the play, outshooting the visitors 8-0. Nanaimo barely got across the centre stripe, until 6:31 of the first period, when Shawn Overton made their first shot count. Warmed up, the Clippers hard-working reputation kicked in. They killed off more than a minute of a two-man Victoria power play, and took a 1-0 lead to the first break.
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"We came out pretty hard, then they came down and got a good bounce," said Bozak, hoarse and sick like many of his teammates. "That kind of drained us."
"We came out pretty hard, then they came down and got a good bounce," said Bozak, hoarse and sick like many of his teammates. "That kind of drained us."
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This year's version of the Grizzlies, however, are not about quitting, sick or not.
This year's version of the Grizzlies, however, are not about quitting, sick or not.
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"Their attitude is different," Nanaimo coach Bill Bestwick said before the game. "They think they can win every game they play, whereas other years that wasn't the case."
"Their attitude is different," Nanaimo coach Bill Bestwick said before the game. "They think they can win every game they play, whereas other years that wasn't the case."
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The Grizzlies finally hit the scoreboard at 10:19, when Tommy Fitzpatrick connected on a long shot on the power play. Tyler Mazzei got that one back at 12:40, but the Grizzlies kept coming -- and shooting.
The Grizzlies finally hit the scoreboard at 10:19, when Tommy Fitzpatrick connected on a long shot on the power play. Tyler Mazzei got that one back at 12:40, but the Grizzlies kept coming -- and shooting.
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"Our goal definitely got us fired up," Bozak said. "That definitely gave us a big spark."
"Our goal definitely got us fired up," Bozak said. "That definitely gave us a big spark."
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Pierre Girard scored when the puck bounced off a body or two, and drizzled under Nanaimo goalie Michael Garman's legs at 6:20. At 19:07, the Grizzlies nailed one of their Tyler Bozak to Garry Nunn classics, and it was a one-goal game.
Pierre Girard scored when the puck bounced off a body or two, and drizzled under Nanaimo goalie Michael Garman's legs at 6:20. At 19:07, the Grizzlies nailed one of their Tyler Bozak to Garry Nunn classics, and it was a one-goal game.
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To open the third period, Bozak won the opening face off in the third period, and got the puck back to Ashford McMaster. McMaster, with three assists on the night, sent it to Nunn, who hit Bozak streaming down the slot on a full-speed breakaway to tie the game 4-4. Chances abounded, but it stayed scoreless, until Bozak's winner, which appeared to be stopped.
To open the third period, Bozak won the opening face off in the third period, and got the puck back to Ashford McMaster. McMaster, with three assists on the night, sent it to Nunn, who hit Bozak streaming down the slot on a full-speed breakaway to tie the game 4-4. Chances abounded, but it stayed scoreless, until Bozak's winner, which appeared to be stopped.
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"I made the shot, then I looked back, and it just trickled over the goal line," said Bozak, who, except for the playoff upset last season, had never beaten the Clippers during his two-year career in Victoria.
"I made the shot, then I looked back, and it just trickled over the goal line," said Bozak, who, except for the playoff upset last season, had never beaten the Clippers during his two-year career in Victoria.
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He fished the puck out of the Nanaimo net after the game. That one was a keeper.
He fished the puck out of the Nanaimo net after the game. That one was a keeper.
1 comment:
Nice hair, and pretty shirt. Will fit in good at DU
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