The CR No 1 Auto Body Bantam A Tyees were looking for some redemption when they hosted the Juan de Fuca Grizzlies last weekend.
The Tyees had been mauled by the Grizzlies in three previous games and were hoping for a better result Sunday at Rod Brind’Amour Arena.
The game started ominously for the locals as they gave up an early goal on a wraparound play. The Grizzlies then took a two-goal lead on a deflection which Tyee goalie Nathan Hoff had no chance on.
The Tyees kept up their hard work and were rewarded when Joe Gage was left alone in the slot and one-timed a pass for the Tyees. Campbell River’s Gavin Rauser evened the score at two apiece shortly after Gage’s goal and it was game on.
The Grizzlies quickly regained the lead shortly after the Tyees pulled even but the goal was matched by Tyee James Severs who drove the net and buried a wrist shot, top corner. Rauser then notched his second marker in the game with a shot from the slot on the power play to give Campbell River a 4-3 lead.
The back-and-forth match carried on into the third frame with Juan de Fuca scoring the next two goals to forge ahead 5-4. Tyee Tyson Goebel’s hard work paid off when he caused a turnover and set up Severs who went in on a breakaway and scored his second of the game to tie the game up once again.
But once again the Grizzlies forged ahead on a screen shot.
The Tyees’ perserverance paid off again when the Severs-Goebel tandem connected for the second time with Goebel scoring the tying goal off some hard forechecking by Severs. The Tyees pushed for the winning goal in the last minute but had to settle for a 6-6 tie in the seesaw contest.
Head coach Peter Apostolakos said he was happy with how his younger team battled, especially with only four defencemen. Affiliate player Jake McKenzie contributed nicely to the team effort. Apostolakos hoped the improved effort against the Grizzlies would help build confidence in some of the younger players on the team.
The Tyees have a busy schedule next weekend as they host Comox in a Friday night exhibition game then travel to Comox Saturday afternoon. On Sunday morning, the Tyees host Powell River in their final league game.