Grieve leads Warriors to 2nd straight win

Alex Grieve had quite a weekend.

The Warriors captain, who had just six assists over his first eight games, scored three times and added an assist Sunday leading his club to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Cowichan Valley Capitals.

Grieve had nine points over a pair of weekend wins including a goal and four assists Saturday in the Warriors 9-1 pounding of the Trail Smoke Eaters.

Sunday, Grieve scored all three of his goals on the power-play, one in each period as the Warriors held period leads of 2-0 and 3-1.

"Our power-play looked good. We simplified it a lot," says head coach Darren Yopyk.

"We had some missing pieces and guys just jumped in and they know what we need to do. We worked hard over the exhibition season and to here to make sure the guys know what's going on. We were lucky to put some goals in for sure."

Grayson Downing assisted on all three of Grieve's goals while Shawn Hocchausen chipped in with a pair of helpers.

Brayden Sherbinin and Matt Cronin also scored for the Warriors, each tallying their first of the season.

Kevin Boyle kicked out 28 shots to register the win, his first between the pipes for the Warriors.

"Of course. Anytime you have a goose-egg on the win column you're really not really excited. He's really worked hard and it's good for him to get that first win. He played well today," says Yopyk.

Boyle made some key saves, especially early in the third period after the Capitals had cut the deficit to 3-2 with an early power-play goal in the final frame.

"It's great to get the first win. It's tough going 0-4 in my first four BCHL games," says Boyle.

"It feels good to get the first under your belt."

"As you go on further there becomes a little doubt, but with stats like that (2.42 goals against average and .915 save percentage) you know it's not just you there's a little luck in the bounces you get. You just keep battling."

The Warriors finished Sunday's game 3-4 with the man advantage. Cowichan went 1-6.

Westside were without forward Max French and defencemen Michael King and Tom Kroshus.

All three suffered upper body injuries in Saturday's win over Trail.

French says he expects to play Friday against Vernon while Yopyk says the other two will be evaluated during the week.

The win was the Warriors second in a row and runs their unbeaten streak to three.

The Warriors try to make it three in a row Friday when they host the two-time defending Royal Bank Cup champion Vernon Vipers in the first half of a home-and-home series between the Interior Conference rivals.