Break out the broomsticks because the Revelstoke Grizzlies swept the first round of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) playoffs against the Chase Heat Wednesday (Feb. 28) night.
With four straight wins, the Revelstoke Grizzlies are off to the next round of the KIJHL playoffs. The Grizzlies beat the Chase Heat last night with a score of 5–1. Revelstoke’s David Ander opened the scoring for the Grizzlies with a goal partway through the first period.
Assisted by Nathan White and Colton McLeod, Ander slotted home the opening goal at 11:22 on a powerplay.
Prezton Stewart scored his first goal of the playoffs at 16:24 to double the Grizzlies’ lead. Assists for the goal went to Diego Smith and Jaylen Forsyth.
Revelstoke got the scoring underway early in the second period with Ethan Coventry picking up his second goal of the playoffs and the third on the night for the Grizzlies. Coventry’s goal was assisted by Nathan White, for his second assist of both the night and the playoffs.
Colton McLeod made it 4–0 for the Grizzlies at 9:09 with assists coming from Nicholas Buckley and Faris Meddeb to close out the second period.
Chase’s Kieran Strauss broke the Grizzly shutout at 5:35 with a powerplay goal after Revelstoke’s Kyle Federico was sent to the penalty box for interference. Strauss’ goal was his first of the playoffs and was assisted by Brodie Gohmann and Owen Dean.
Revelstoke’s Jake Neufeld finished the scoring for the night, making it 5–1 for the Grizzlies and marking his third goal of the playoffs. Colton McLeod had the lone assist for Neufeld’s goal, which was his third assist of the playoffs.
Although the Grizzlies made away with a sweep for the series and an authoritative win on the road, the two teams still combined for nearly 40 penalty minutes throughout the game.
The Grizzlies will play the winner of the series between the Kamloops Storm and the Sicamous Eagles. Currently, the series is tied with both teams earning wins on the road. The series heads to Sicamous Friday (March 1) night for the fifth game of the series, with puck drop at 7 p.m.
READ MORE: Special public avalanche warning released for eastern B.C.