Oliver Auyeung-Ashton meditates before a playoff game in 2023 (Photo: Kyle Robinson Photography)
Victoria, BC ~ “That’s a tough break for the young netminder making his BCHL debut,” said Victoria Grizzlies broadcaster Tom Wilke on September 24th 2022. That was the turn of phrase in reference to Oliver Auyeung-Ashton coming out to play the puck and having it poked past him into an empty goal. An unceremonious way to make his BCHL debut to say the least, coming on in relief to start the third period in a 5-1 blowout loss to the West Kelowna Warriors. Auyeung-Ashton would then go on to make 19 saves in the period and have that hold up as the most saves in a period across the league during the 2022-23 BCHL season.
Falling and getting back up has been a common theme for Oli (as he has been lovingly nicknamed) in his young life and it has been his ability to rebound from those tumbles that have built him into the goaltender and person he is now proud to be.
As a 17 year old, Oliver was the 2023 Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy winner in the BCHL as the league rookie of the year while also being nominated as a finalist for Goaltender of the Year. As a rookie he appeared in 44 games which is more than unheard of in a league dominated by mostly 19-20 year old goaltenders. Take for example the last couple of winners of the Goaltender of the Year Trophy. Ajeet Gundarah, Nathan Airey and Owen Say were 20, 19 and 20 at the time of their awards. Nathan Airey is the 19 year old who won, however it was his third year in the league. That puts into perspective how impressive Auyeung-Ashton’s 17 year old season was, let alone the fact that he posted a 2.48 GAA and .927 SV% on a team that was barely .500 in front of him.
That yearly performance landed him a Division One scholarship to play in the near future at Colgate University. “It means the world to me,” he said, “To have a school like that take a chance on me is an honour…..All I can do now is prove them right.”
It has been a battle to get back to that version of himself however and Oliver’s ability to rebound has had to be put to use on more occasions than he would like over the past year. “I showed what I am capable of doing my rookie year but the goal remains the same every night. I just go in with the mindset of stopping pucks and winning the game.”
Last season Oliver is the first to admit that he was not his usual self to begin his sophomore campaign and things only became worse after separating his shoulder in an early January game against the Chilliwack Chiefs during a crease scramble. “I was putting too much pressure on myself,” said the young Coquitlam native, “I felt like I was letting the organization down in a way and that took all of the fun out for me. When I am having fun and not thinking too much is when I am at my best.” That shoulder ailment left him out of the lineup for an extended period of time and in his eyes he believes that it was more of a good thing than you would think.
“I was forced to take three months away from the sport I love and it put things into perspective. At the end of the day it just became wanting to play the game I love again. All I could think about was coming back.”
During his rehab he had the lone goal to rebound and be positive by looking towards being back in time to back stop a possible playoff run. Looking at trials with a glass half full perspective and getting back to his feet are two things that stem from a very personal and heartbreaking experience.
When Oliver was just eight years old, his father passed away suddenly putting an obvious strain on the family. “My dad passing away has played a crucial role in the person I have become today. His love for the sport is something I will always cherish and remember. Whenever I’m in the crease, I’m playing for him” said Oliver.
The pain of losing a loved one is not something anyone can quantify, however Auyeung-Ashton quantifies in a big way what his mother did for him as a single mother and how that motivates him daily. “Seeing the way my mom battled through that time and provided for our family has been a sight that has stuck with me. When you are an everyday witness to someone responding as well as she did when faced with adversity, it is bound to become a part of your identity. My mom gave us an amazing childhood, and always taught us to always look at the glass half full,” he continued. “She deserves all of the credit for everything. The list of sacrifices she has made for me is endless. She is the reason I am able to do what I love everyday.”
Fast forward to the end of the season when he returned after a two and a half month absence, and was stellar for the team down the stretch in the postseason. During the 2024 BCHL playoffs he held a .919 save percentage and at times was the only reason the Grizzlies were still battling in their Coastal Conference Semi Final against the Surrey Eagles. “My goal when I got injured was to return for the playoffs. I had no room for error and in the playoffs I was just having fun. I was just grateful to be back,” Oliver quoted. “I would trade last year for my rookie season in a heartbeat, solely based on the difference in postseasons. Flashy numbers don’t mean anything if you get swept in the playoffs. That is when I have the most fun. In the playoffs, I don’t think, I just play.”
Determined to come back stronger than ever for his third and final BCHL season, a lingering injury from the pre-season has had him out of the lineup save for the season opener in Powell River.
“It has been an unfortunate go, yes” said Oliver, “But it’s out of my control. Jake (Grizzlies Athletic Therapist) just calls it a bad string of luck that I can do nothing about.” He then referenced the quote, “Control the controllable” and said that that is his approach when facing these sorts of things. Certainly a mature view for someone just 19 years of age. He also added that a specific quote has been important to him during this time. “Sometimes we become so obsessed with our future, that we don’t realize we are in the middle of what we used to pray for.”
Even with all of that being said, Oli admits that his injury woes over the past year have taken a toll on him mentally especially early on this year. “Everyone is always giving me high praise. The returning guys and team staff know what I am capable of, but to the new guys, I am just the guy who gave up five against Powell River,” he remarked, “Especially when we are so good, I just want to be out there getting in on the fun.”
When looking forward, the Grizzlies have iced a very strong team that still has growing to do, but the end goal remains the same for the team and for Oliver.
“This is my last year of junior. Over these past two years, Victoria has grown to be my favorite place on Earth. In my eyes, the championship is the standard. I want it badly and I know every guy in that room feels the same way. When I am back, I will do everything in my power to achieve that goal.”
Oliver continues to look at things through his rehab process with a positive attitude and a willingness to work towards being 110% ready to back stop the Grizzlies once more. “His work ethic is incredible,” said Jake Wilhelm (Grizzlies Athletic Therapist), “Just like when he is healthy it translates to rehabbing. He has done everything I have asked of him.”
In any event, Auyeung-Ashton will go down as one of the greatest goaltenders in franchise history. He is within reach this season of the Grizzlies all time; shutouts, games played and wins by a goaltender and he is firmly in the top three of both goals against average and save percentage. Those records are not something he is worried about however.
“I haven’t left my mark yet.”
