The Revelstoke Grizzlies had an even split on its three game southern road trip last weekend, with one win, one loss and one tie.
On Friday, the Grizzlies crossed the border to take on the Spokane Braves, the KIJHL’s lone American team.
Garret Graham put Spokane on the board first, scoring a power play goal at 5:48 of the first period. Kurtis Redding made it 2-0 Spokane five minutes into the second period.
Derek Miskiman got Revelstoke on the board with 8:22 to go in the second, with help from Ryan Hozjan,
In the third, Spokane restored its two goal lead at 15:23 of the period, but Revelstoke would respond with goals from Josh Pilon and Tyler Chavez Leech to tie the game and send it to overtime.
There, it was Louie Federico’s turn to play the hero, as the Revelstoke native scored at 2:44 to give the Grizzlies a 4-3 win.
On Saturday, Revelstoke was in Castlegar to face the Rebels in what would be another close game. Zach Paxman scored first to give Revelstoke a 1-0 lead at 5:09 of the first, but Aaron Petten tied things up for Castlegar before the period was over.
The teams would trade goals again in the second, with Bryan Lubin scoring for the Rebels and Paxman getting his second of the game for the Grizzlies.
Federico, with an assist from Pilon, gave Revelstoke a 3-2 lead with 6:33 left in the third, but Castlegar would tie the game 33 seconds later when Konnor Madsen found the back of the net.
Then, with only 34 seconds left, Lubin scored a power play goal to give the Rebels a 4-3 win, despite being outshot 40-29.
On Sunday, Revelstoke traveled to Grand Forks to face the Border Bruins. Grand Forks jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Steele Anderson and Kyle Doak, but Chavez Leech would respond for Revelstoke before the first was over.
The second period as a wide open affair, with the teams combining for six goals. Max Newton made it 3-1 Border Bruins at 14:31 of the second, only for Hozjan to respond for the Grizzlies at 10:12. It didn’t take long for Grand Forks to restore it’s two goal lead, with Doak scoring his second of the night less than 30 seconds later.
The Grizzlies responded quickly. First, Tristan Simm scored to make it 4-3. Then Josh Pilon netted two goals in 48 seconds to put Revelstoke up 5-4. Federico and Ethan Waitzner assisted on both goals.
All told the teams combined for five goals in 3:36.
Atfer that flurry of action, the game settled down until the final two minutes of the third, when Newton scored for Grand Forks to tie the game. Overtime solved nothing and the game ended 5-5.
The Grizzlies have another triple-header this weekend, starting with a road match against the Sicamous Eagles on Friday. On Saturday, the Grizzlies are at home against the Nelson Leafs. On Sunday, Revelstoke hosts the Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
