Special to the Review
By Andy Siegel
A solid crowd filled the Revelstoke Forum Tuesday night (Dec. 5) to watch the Grizzlies pull off an incredible 5–3 win at their last home game until New Years Eve. Local fans who made it out on a dreary rainy evening were treated to the most exciting contest of the season.
With just one home game left before the New Year, the Revelstoke Grizzlies currently sit third in the Doug Birks’ Division of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, with Kamloops Storm and the Sicamous Eagles holding the two spots above the Grizzlies, respectively. The Grizzlies’ performance in their division has earned them a 7th place position in the overall league standings.
Nathan White of the Revelstoke Grizzlies opened the scoring at 6:32 with his first goal of the season on a flip shot from the right side slowly sailed into the net.
In a complete reversal from Saturday night’s high-shooting affair, the first period ended with shots 13–14 in favour of Kamloops.
3:20 into the second period Kamloops came Storming back to tie the score with a snap shot on the middle right side of the net.
Responding with a goal of their own at 8:53, Revelstoke’s Diego Smith jumped on a loose puck that bounced off the back boards from an errant shot. Without hesitation, Smith released a wrist shot that soared into the upper portion of the net.
Revelstoke survived a huge challenge with a two-man advantage for Kamloops from a hard blow to the head that resulted in a double infraction. With the home crowd supporting them, the Grizzlies kept a tight four man “box” to fend-off the dual man advantage.
Feeding off the energy of killing two-man advantage, the Grizzlies’ Ethan Coventry scored the all-important third goal at 16:40 of the third period.
With the game seemingly in hand for the home team on a late two score lead, the Storm notched two goals in 25 seconds to silence the Forum.
Managing the emotional letdown of allowing Kamloops to tie the game, Revelstoke Assistant Captain, Austin Wooley, went down on the ice behind the goal line, only to get back up and tip a shot from the left point into the net sending the arena into a frenzy at 18:26.
Ethan Coventry sniped his second unassisted goal of the contest into an empty net to seal the win sending the local fans home with huge grins on their faces.
Next on their schedule, the Grizzlies hit the road for an away game Friday (Dec. 8) against the 100 Mile House Wranglers.
READ MORE: Revelstoke Mountain Resort to open Saturday