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Junior hockey fills the Victoria weekend calendar

Saanich Braves get busy, Cougars hit Storm in VIJHL, Grizz and Royals host games

Saanich Braves get busy, Cougars hit Storm in VIJHL

The Saanich Braves look to continue their hot start with three games in three nights.

Starting tonight the Braves (3-1) play the Westshore Wolves (4-3) and Thursday against the Nanaimo Buccaneers (4-3) (results were past press time).

George Pearkes arena tonight (Sept. 28) against the Kerry Park Islanders in VIJHL play.

The league’s only undefeated team, the Victoria Cougars (6-0), visit the Campbell River Storm (3-2) tonight.

Grizzlies crack top 10 national rankings

The Victoria Grizzlies earned national attention this week cracking the inaugural Canadian Junior A Hockey League top-10 ranking at No. 8. The Grizzlies were not rated last year but made it to No. 8 based on its early-season results of five wins in six games, first in the B.C. Hockey League’s Island division.

This weekend the Grizz host the Coquitlam Express (4-1), 7:15 p.m. Saturday night. The Grizz defeated the Express 2-1 on Sunday, winning two of three from last weekend’s road trip.

Leading the way was Grizzlies forward Gerry Fitzgerald, this week’s BCHL Player of the Week. The 19-year-old, one of the famed Grizzlies triplets, scored a goal and assist in each of the Grizzlies wins over Coquitlam and the Chilliwack Chiefs.

Goalie Michael Stiliadis was outstanding with a .942 save percentage.

Royals host playoff nemesis for two

The Kamloops Blazers visit the Victoria Royals tonight (Sept. 28) and Sunday afternoon at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre the B.C. Division rivalry heats up.

Both squads are undefeated, as the Royals won two against the Vancouver Giants and the Blazers swept two from the Kelowna Rockets. Leading the Blazers are Swiss star Tim Bozon and rugged Regina winger J.C. Lipon. Both return from the Blazers squad that swept the Royals in the first round of the 2012 playoffs.