VIJHL Playoff Summary – March 16 – Round Two
Nanaimo 4 Victoria 3
Teams just don’t come back when they trail the Cougars by three early in the second but they are not the Nanaimo Buccaneers. The Bucs erase a three goal deficit and take Game 3 at the Pirate Ship, 4-3.
Brendan Rogers scored the winner at 10:32 of the third off some great work by linemates Braydon Nelson and Trey Watson.
Other Buccaneers goals came from Dawson Heathcote, Lucas Patton and AP Ben Kotylak.
The Cougars scored two quick ones early in the first and by a minute thirty four into the contest they were up 2-0. Cougar goals came from Foster Martin with a pair and Mateo Albinati.
Cougars Head Coach Suneil Karod warned after Game 2 that Nanaimo is a dangerous team and has some firepower. The Buccaneers showed that on Saturday night outshooting the Cougars 42-21.
Ben Kotylak and Foster Martin were the game stars.
Campbell River Storm 2 Saanich Braves 1
As tentative and cautious as Game 1 was, Game 2 was the opposite. Despite the 2-1 scoreline, these two teams opened up and entertained in a Storm victory Saturday night at the Brindy.
Once again the goaltenders, Anderson Violette and Aaron de Kok were simply incredible making some big stops and couldn’t be faulted on any of the goals.
Damon Porter opened the scoring late in the first when he tipped a Pearce Messer shot from the top of the circle on the power play.
Tyler Chyzowski has had a great playoffs so far. Twice on the same shift he forced Saanich turnovers, the second one went to Mike Dyck alone at the side of the net who put it away. The Storm went into the third up by two.
Ryan Strange has demonstrated some great skill taking faceoffs but he can also put the puck in the back of the net. The recipient of a giveaway in the Storm end, he buried his opportunity early in the final frame.
Saanich pressed the rest of the way through and the Storm hung on for the win.
The Storm power play went 1/6 while the Braves went 0/4.
The Game Stars were as you would expect, Violette and de Kok.