Defenseman Grant Wood started things off early for the Glenwood Grizzly Midget hockey team in a late-night game against Aspen at the Lewis Ice Arena on Wednesday.

Just over three minutes into the first period Wood launched a slap shot from the blue line, on a pass from Tony Bosco, that sailed right past the Aspen goaltender.

The goal jumpstarted the Grizzlies, who went on to claim a 3-2 win with some late-game heroics.

In the second period, the Grizzlies went ahead 2-0 when Bosco scored with assists by Dan Abshire and Dawson Quint.

Aspen responded with two goals in the final three minutes of the second period to end the second period tied at 2.

In the third period, the Grizzlies could not take advantage of penalty shot awarded to Trey Fox.

With both defenses standing strong throughout the period, it looked like the Leafs might get their third tie and the Grizzlies their first tie.

Bosco would have none of it, though, taking advantage of a late Grizzly surge led by Abshire and Fox. Bosco scored with only 12 seconds remaining to deliver the victory.

The Grizzlies outshot the Leafs, 26-19, with Grizzly goaltender Michael Brunk stopping 17.

The Grizzlies have a chance to climb in the standings with three games this weekend in Denver, including meeting with Arapahoe and Arvada on Saturday and a game against first-place Hyland Hills on Sunday afternoon.

Lots of Grizzly Hockey action this weekend in Glenwood

The Grizzly Bantam B hockey team (13- and 14-year-olds) will host the Junior Eagles on Saturday night and again on Sunday at 1:45 p.m. The Grizzly Bantams also host the Renegades at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. The Grizzly Pee Wee B hockey team (11- and 12-year-olds) hosts the Junior Eagles on Sunday morning at 10:15 a.m. and again at 3:15 p.m.

All games are at the Glenwood Community Center ice rink and are free and open to the public. More information is available at www.grizzlyhockey.org.