Comox 3 Nanaimo 4
Four points from first star Nate Barclay and three from second star Dylan Lazaroff led the Nanaimo Buccaneers to an exciting 4-3 win over the Comox Valley Glacier Kings in Friday night VIJHL North Division final series action in front of 455 fans at Nanaimo Ice Centre.
Nanaimo now leads the best-of-seven series 3-2, with game six Saturday night at the Comox Valley Sports Centre. Friday’s game was the first of the series where the home team emerged victorious.
The Buccaneers never trailed, starting with a high writer from the blue line from Barclay just 25 seconds into the contest, with Lazaroff’s first of two goals making it 2-0 after the first period, and his second making it 3-1 in the sandwich frame, after third star Gavin Mowat scored the Glacier Kings’ first marker.
Curtis Freeman made it 4-1 in the third before power play tallies from Leon Mikhalchuk and Evan Marko drew the visitors within one.
Aaron Pichette picked up the win in the Bucs goal with 31 saves, while Ander Reyes turned aside 28 shots in the Yetis net.
Victoria 2 Peninsula 1
A 22 save effort from first star Finn Wilson backstopped the Victoria Cougars to a 2-1 decision over the host Peninsula Panthers as 343 watched at Panorama Recreation Centre.
The victory helped the Cougars stave off elimination, with game six Saturday at Archie Browning Arena, as the Panthers now lead 3-2 in the best-of-seven South Division final.
Kelton Shinde in the first and Simon Semancik in the second had the goals for Victoria, which led 1-0 and 2-0 by periods. Second star Cole Patterson assisted on both goals.
Brendan Williams scored late in the third to draw the hosts to within one, and Caden Lentz finished with 22 stops between the Panthers pegs. Defenseman Risto Ringma earned third star honours.
