It was the Revelstoke Grizzlies biggest win of the season but coach Randy Quakenbush doesn’t think too much should be read into the team’s 10-4 blow-out victory over the Chase Heat Sunday afternoon at the Revelstoke Forum.
“I think 10 goals means we got a little luckier than we have on other days,” he said following the game. “We won’t read anything more into it. That team we played is a very good team and we just happened to get some better finishes than we have in the past.”
The victory capped off a perfect weekend for the Grizzlies, who also beat the Golden Rockets 4-2 Saturday night in Golden.
“I’m very excited,” said Quakenbush. “We’re starting to come together, we’re starting to play as a group and we’re starting to get very tight in our dressing room.”
Saturday’s game was a scoreless affair until 14 minutes into the second period when Darren Andre put Golden on the board. The Grizzlies responded 47 seconds later with a power play goal by Brendan Burge.
Golden took the lead early in the third period but Revelstoke stormed back with two goals in 21 seconds around the mid-point of the period. Austin Donaldson scored the tying goal while Burge got the winner. Braeden Monk sealed the victory with empty-netter.
Revelstoke had to come from behind again on Sunday after falling behind 3-2 early in the second period. The team bounced back with four power play goals in under seven minutes in the second period. After Chase made it 6-4 early in the third period, the Grizzlies added four more goals for a 10-4 victory.
Despite the blow-out win on Sunday, Quakenbush wasn’t entirely happy with the team’s performance in light of the four goals given up.
“We can’t afford to be giving up four goals. Our mandate is to be less than three every game.”
Once again Burge led the way offensively for Revelstoke, scoring twice in Golden and picking up one goal and five assists against Chase. Ethan Wood and newly acquired netminder Robert Kennedy split the goaltending duties.
The Grizzlies have also made a few roster changes early on. Forwards Devin Gelowitz and Jeremy MacDonald have both left the team while forwards Donaldson and Mak Barden and goaltender Kennedy were added. Quakenbush said the team still had room for one more player on the roster.
“We are currently pursuing one but we are very happy with what we’ve got,” he said.
The Grizzlies are back in action on the road Friday against the expansion Summerland Steam. The team returns home for a game against the Kamloops Storm on Saturday night. Revelstoke is currently tied with Kamloops for first place in the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference.