The O2 Grizzlies established an early lead they would never relinquish, defeating Sauce Hockey Academy 4-2 in a game that was as much about discipline as it was about skill. The Grizzlies came out flying in the first period, with Cruz Todd opening the scoring just over five minutes in. Spencer McFadden doubled the lead shortly after, and Ellis May netted what would prove to be the game-winner before the period was halfway through. Sauce Hockey Academy managed to stop the bleeding late in the first when Dawson Davison, assisted by Benjamin Wu, got his team on the board, but they headed into the intermission facing a 3-1 deficit.
The middle frame was a parade to the penalty box, with both teams combining for five infractions. Despite the frequent power plays, neither side could capitalize, as the goalies stood tall amidst the chaos. The physical, chippy nature of the game carried into the third period, where Sauce Hockey Academy mounted a comeback attempt. Brody Wilson scored early in the period, with assists from Jacob Antignani and Dawson Davison, to pull his team within a single goal and inject new life into the contest.
However, the Grizzlies weathered the storm and sealed the victory with just a minute left on the clock. Hunter McCain found the back of the net for an insurance goal, extinguishing any hope of a Sauce Hockey Academy comeback. The game concluded with a flurry of late penalties, a fitting end to a contest defined by its physical edge. The Grizzlies' efficient scoring in the first period and their ability to clamp down defensively when it mattered most proved to be the difference in a hard-fought road victory.
