OLDS — The Olds Grizzlys hope to rebound from a tough road trip Wednesday, Feb. 7 when they host the Grande Prairie Storm at the Sportsplex. Game time is 7 p.m.
It won’t be easy though. As of Monday, the Storm’s record was 18-24-4-2 for 42 points in 48 games, while the Grizzlys’ record stood at 10-33-2-3 for 25 points in 48 games.
The Grizzlys went on a two-day road trip to Lloydminster and Bonnyville Friday and Saturday.
They scored a total of four goals and gave up 11 during that trip.
But it was a good roadie for forward Gage Giblin who scored three goals during that tour.
The first stop was Lloydminster, where the Bobcats beat the Grizzlys 5-2.
Giblin opened the scoring for the Grizz at 5:57 of the first period, assisted by Mitchell Patrick and Andrew Casellato.
However, the Bobcats responded with three goals to take a 3-1 lead going into the second period.
They added one more for a 4-1 lead before Greye Rampton scored his 16th of the season, assisted by Ryan Tong and Casellato.
The Bobcats got the lone goal of the third period on a power play to seal the win.
Aidan Comeau started the game in net for the Grizzlys, stopping 12 of 15 shots, but was replaced by Thomas Samborski who played the second and third periods, stopping 19 of 21 shots fired his way.
The Grizzlys fired 25 shots at Bobcats goaltender Haden Heide.
The Grizzlys were 0/5 on the power play. The Bobcats were 2/7.
On Saturday, Feb. 3, the Grizzlys were beaten 6-2 by the Pontiacs in Bonnyville.
Giblin scored both goals for the Grizzlys.
He scored his seventh goal of the season at 9:59 of the first period on a power play, assisted by Connor Seeley and Mitchell Patrick. It stood as the lone goal of that frame.
Giblin potted his eighth goal at 6:37 of the second period, another power play marker, assisted by Ryder Many Grey Horses.
That gave the Grizzlys a heady 2-0 lead over the Pontiacs.
Unfortunately, that was it for Grizzlys goal scoring.
The Pontiacs scored six unanswered goals – including an empty-netter -- for the win.
Samborski tended net, stopping 35 of 40 shots. Pontiacs goaltender Bodee Weiss didn’t have to work too hard as the Grizzlys only fired 17 shots his way.
The Grizzlys went 2/5 on the power play, the Pontiaces 1/6.
On Saturday, Feb. 10, the Grizzlys are back on the road for a game in Drumheller versus the Dragons, before they begin a three-game homestand on Sunday during which they’ll host Drayton Valley, Camrose and Lloydminster.
In the wake of last week's departure of five teams to the BCHL, the Grizzlys posted a statement on their website saying “The Olds Grizzlys remain proud and loyal members of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, committed to our fans. Committed to the AJHL community. Committed to Alberta.”
