Captain Jacksenn Hungle returned from injury just in time for the Victoria Grizzlies.
The Island-product, committed to NCAA Div. 1 Canisius University, scored on the power play at 1:50 of overtime to give the Grizzlies a 2-1 B.C. Hockey League victory over the Vipers on Wednesday night in Vernon.
The return from injury of starting goalkeeper Oliver Auyeung-Ashton, committed to NCAA Div. 1 Colgate, has also been a key recent return for the Grizzlies and his presence was also felt in a 31-save performance that earned him game first-star honours.
Chase Pirtle’s sixth goal of the season gave the Grizzlies (7-4-2) the lead before Simon Binkley tied it for Vernon (4-7-3) in the second period.
The game featured three players ranked by Central Scouting for the 2025 NHL draft. Defenceman Cooper Cleaves, committed to NCAA Div. 1 in the Ivy League at Dartmouth, and German forward Shea Busch, headed to the NCAA Big Ten Penn State Nittany Lions, are Vipers players projected for the sixth or seventh rounds. Grizzlies blue-liner Drew Hockley is also projected for the sixth/seventh rounds.
The Grizzlies continue their longest road trip of the season, in terms of distance, on Friday and Saturday nights in Prince George against the Spruce Kings (4-8-2).
Meanwhile, the Nanaimo Clippers (4-7-1) are in Coquitlam on Friday night to face the Coastal Conference-leading Express (9-3-1) and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (7-4-1) are in Duncan on Friday evening to play the Cowichan Valley Capitals (7-6).
