Victoria 3 Nanaimo 2 (OT)
Second star Grady Sluggett scored at 14:46 of overtime to give the Victoria Cougars a 3-2 victory over the Nanaimo Buccaneers in a thrilling VIJHL Playoff Championship Series contest in front of 775 fans at Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo.
Finn Wilson was deservedly named the game’s first star as the Cougars netminder was spectacular, making 60 saves in the contest, including 10 in overtime, as the Bucs outshot their guests 62-31.
The first four goals of the game all came with the man advantage, as Kelton Shinde and Ethan Davey both scored power play goals in the first period, with Victoria holding the 2-0 lead until late in the third frame, when Curtis Freeman and Nate Barclay with less than a minute left, both with goaltender Aaron Pichette on the bench for an extra attacker. Pichette finished with 28 stops.
Dylan Lazaroff assisted on both Bucs goals and was named third star of the contest.
Game of the series goes Wednesday night at Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo.
