The Victoria Grizzlies are riding the wave of one of their most thrilling playoff runs in recent memory – and now, for the first time in six years, they’re heading to the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL)’s Coastal Conference Final.
Their ticket was punched in dramatic fashion.
Game 6 against Cowichan Valley looked destined for overtime until Chase Pirtle buried the winner with just seven seconds left on the clock, sending the Q Centre into a frenzy and putting a bow on a back-and-forth Island battle.
SERIES WINNER WITH 7 SECONDS LEFT🤯
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) April 27, 2025
Chase Pirtle bats the puck into the net and sends Victoria to round 3 with his game winner
🎙️ @TomWilkepxp | @BCHLGrizzVideo pic.twitter.com/25561pBTgA
“For us, I think it was just really important that we stuck to the message,” Grizzlies president and governor David Michaud said. “You hear it all the time, it’s a little cliche, but you don’t want to get too high when you’re up 3-0, and you certainly don’t want to feel low when you’re down 3-2.”
After building a 3-0 series lead, the Grizzlies watched Cowichan claw their way back into the fight. It was a test of poise and maturity for a group trying to take that next step.
“You really have to tip your cap to Cowichan,” Michaud said. “They were just a team that wouldn’t go away. Even when we had them 3-0 in Game 6, they fought back to tie it. Chase’s goal is probably right up there in my top five of all-time moments.”
That victory secures Victoria’s first appearance in the conference final since 2018-19. The Grizzlies have been led by high-end production all postseason, with Reegan Hiscock and Thomas Molson sitting atop the league in scoring at 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Hiscock, a Cornell commit, has registered a point in 11 of 12 playoff games. Molson, a Yale commit and the son of Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson, erupted for 10 points in round two alone, including a hat trick in Game 4.
“Tom’s been tremendous, not just in terms of production,” Michaud said. “He’s exceeded expectations on the leadership side. For a guy only here one season, he’s become such a big part of the room. The guys love him. The fans love him. And the way he elevated his play against Cowichan was really special.”
The Grizzlies will now face a heavyweight in the Chilliwack Chiefs, who claimed the top seed in the Western Conference.
The Chiefs survived a seven-game test against Prince George in round one before dispatching Port Alberni in five games.
In four regular-season meetings with Chilliwack, Victoria dropped three, though all were offensive shootouts that combined for 38 total goals – an average of 9.5 per game.
Chilliwack leans on elite goaltending from Quentin Miller, who’s been rock-solid in the postseason with a 1.85 goals-against average and .935 save percentage. For Victoria, Oliver Auyeung-Ashton has been steady in net, posting a 7-1-1 record and a .912 save percentage through two rounds.
“I think it’s going to be a bit of everything,” Michaud said of the upcoming matchup. “Two really good forward groups, two good d-cores, and two excellent goalies. I think we’re fairly similar in a lot of ways.”
Special teams could be a deciding factor. Victoria owns the best power play remaining in the playoffs, clicking at over 30 per cent. Chilliwack counters with the second-best penalty kill, operating at just over 87 per cent.
“We’ve talked all year about how important special teams are,” Michaud said. “It’s not just how many goals you get – it’s when you get them. They can really shift momentum.”
The series opens Friday, May 2 in Chilliwack. The Grizzlies will host Games 3 and 4 on May 6 and 7 at the Q Centre.
While eyes are on the Grizzlies’ western showdown, the BCHL’s Interior Conference is set for a blockbuster clash of its own.
The Penticton Vees – in their final season in the BCHL before joining the WHL – will take on the Brooks Bandits, the AJHL powerhouse turned BCHL contender.
Penticton has reached the last three Fred Page Cup finals, winning two. Brooks, a factory for elite talent including Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar, is gunning for its first BCHL crown after winning last year’s cross-provincial Rocky Mountain Challenge.
It’s a heavyweight collision in both conferences. But for Victoria, the message is clear – celebrate the moment, then get back to work.
“As awesome as that Game 6 win was, we reminded the guys – we’re only halfway there,” Michaud said. “They earned a couple days off. Now it’s time to turn the page.”
