The Olds Grizzlys put a halt to a three game road losing streak on the weekend as they skated into Bonneyville Friday night and handed the Pontiacs their first loss of the season. After a long trip on the bus, the boys in Black and Gold had a strong start to the game outshooting the Pontiacs 12 – 6 in the first period. Although, the score would not indicate as Bonneyville took advantage of their six shots scoring on two of them to see the Grizzlys down 2 – 0 after one period of play. The first came shorthanded (Dudley from Barszcz) and the second came on the powerplay (Dusyk from Foo/Ferguson).
With the Grizzlys getting caught in the rear view mirror again, Brandon Clowes stepped up and scored a powerplay marker 1:21 into the second period from Spencer Dorowicz and Lucas Grundy to cut the lead in half. Ten minutes later, Olds evened the score with Taylor Bilyk’s second goal of the year assisted by Chase Paylor and Mitch Owsley. The boys didn’t let up yet, topping off a 3 goal second period performance with Tanner Dunkle scoring in the final minute from Clowes to see the Grizz up 3 – 2 going into the third. Dunkle’s goal was a shorthanded marker.
The third period was tight-checking and had Bonneyville pressing to tie the game. While on the powerplay, Pontiac Spencer Foo tied the game up from Swan/Dusyk at the 5:48 mark. In the dying minutes of the game and the score tied, the Grizzlys had thought they had taken the lead only to have the goal disallowed. For the first time this season, the Grizzlys went into overtime.
With overtime solving nothing, the game went to a shootout. After three rounds, Owsley had scored for the Grizzlys only to have Pontiac Dudley respond. Round 4 saw Dylan Hubbs score while Grizz goalie Ethan Jemieff stopped Foo for the victory. The Grizzlys outshot the Pontiacs 32 – 26. Powerplay struggles continued for the Grizz at they went 1 for 9, Bonneyville went 2 for 10. Player of the Game for Olds went to Brandon Clowes.
The following evening, the Grizz travelled to Lloydminster to take on the winless Bobcats. The Grizzlys opened the scoring in the first on the powerplay with a goal from Dunkle assisted by Spencer Dorowicz and Matt Hanger. Lloydminster fired back 12 seconds later (Marcinew) and then took the lead at the midway point (McDonald from Wozniak/Baker) on the powerplay.
Olds tied the game at two in the second period with an even strength goal (Owsley from Hubbs and Bart Moran) at the 7:45 mark. With 2:21 remaining in the second period, the Bobcats took the lead again with Marcinew scoring his second from Therrien. With the Grizzlys down 3 – 2 going into the third on the powerplay, Hubbs notched one 56 seconds into the frame assisted by Viveiros to tie up the game. With under two minutes left in the game, Clowes fired one into the net to give the Grizz a 4 – 3 lead and the eventual victory. The goal was assisted by Dunkle and Grundy.
The game saw newly acquired goalie Cody Nicolay get his first action as a Grizzly stopping 8 of 10 shots. Jemieff was credited with the win stopping 16 of 17. The Grizzlys were outshot 27 – 21 and went 2 for 8 on the powerplay. Clowes earned Player of the Game for the second night in a row.
After five games on the road, the Grizz head back to the Den to take on the Camrose Kodiaks Monday evening. Game time is 7:30pm. Showcase Weekend will follow Sept. 27 and 28 in Spruce Grove as the Grizzlys will take on the Drayton Valley Thunder and Drumheller Dragons.