The Revelstoke Grizzlies picked up their first win of the season on Saturday, defeating the North Okanagan Knights 3-1 on the road.
The win boosted Revelstoke’s record to 1-2 and followed a 5-3 loss to the Summerland Steam the night before.
The Grizzlies were on the road for two games last weekend and were looking to make up for a poor performance in their season opener the previous weekend against Osoyoos in which they were outshot 48-17 and outscored 5-2.
Yet Friday’s game against the Steam saw a similar result, with the Grizzlies badly outshot in the loss.
Summerland got off to a strong start, with Cole Williams scoring on the power play 2.5 minutes into the first period. Scott Robinson followed that with another powerplay goal just past the halfway point to make it 2-0. Calvin Rout and Jarrett Malchow each scored at even strength to make it 4-0 before the period was over. Summerland outshot Revelstoke 17-5 in the frame.
The Grizzlies finally got on board near the halfway point of the second period when Zac McKee scored his first KIJHL goal, with an assist from Kael Norman. Summerland would get their four-goal lead back when Michael MacLean potted one with 1:22 left in the second. The Grizzlies were outshot 14-5 in the period.
The third period was better for the road team, with Revelstoke scoring two power play goals to make the score close. Mitchell Lavoie scored at 12:34 of the third while Harely Bootsma added a third goal for the Grizzlies with three seconds left in the game to make it a 5-3 final. Raphael Bassot, who played for Summerland last year, assisted on both goals.
With two losses behind them, the Grizzlies travelled to Armstrong looking for redemption against the North Okanagan Knights on Saturday.
Josh Rohatynsky gave Revelstoke its first lead of the season with a power play goal at 11:22 of the first period, with an assist to Fraser McCann.
Bardy Marzocco tied the game for the Knights halfway through the second.
Jon Vandermolen restored the Grizzlies lead with just under six minutes left in the game and Daniel Fisher completed the scoring with nine seconds left to give Revelstoke a 3-1 win.
In other Grizzlies news, the team named second-year defenseman Michael Lenoury its captain. They also dealt goaltender Trevor Dilauro to the Steamboat Wranglers in the Colorado-based Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League.
The Grizzlies are back at home this weekend when they host the Chase Heat on Friday, Sept. 23. They follow that with a game in Sicamous against the Eagles on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
