VIJHL Playoff Summary – March 18
Campbell River 3 Saanich 1
The energy in the George Pearkes Arena was electric on Monday night as the two sides came out ready to play. The Storm, on the strength of two quick goals in the third, earned a 3-1 win and a 3-0 series lead.
Pearce Messer on a partial breakaway opened the scoring midway through the first period.
The Braves replied in the second. Jake Wilhelm’s point shot changed direction for the Braves equalizer 7 minutes into the second.
The game winner came at 13:42 of the third. Damon Kramer struck on a goal mouth scramble; it was a power play goal.
A little over a minute later, Darren Hards, playing his best game of the postseason, roofed a rebound from just outside the blue paint for the insurance goal.
Monday was the first time in the series that the Storm outshot the Braves, 47-31.
Campbell River were 1 for 4 with the man advantage while Saanich was 0 for 3.
Wilhelm and Hards were the game stars.
VIJHL Playoff Summary – March 17
Victoria 5 Nanaimo 1
Special teams played a huge impact in Game 4 Sunday afternoon at the Pirate Ship as the Cougars skated to a 5-1 victory over the Buccaneers.
The Cougars pounced on the Buccaneers early with a power-play goal from Marshall Brown under three minutes into the opening period. Brown added another power-play goal before the period came to a close.
Victoria struck for two more goals in the second from Ryan Okino and Tyler Vanuden.
In the third, up 4-0 the Cougars once again found success on the man advantage with Brown completing a great night with the hattrick.
The Bucs scored in the third from Billy Walters but it was too late.
The Cougars were 5-1 victors and evened the series at 2.
The Cougars went 3 for 10 on the PP and a perfect 8 for 8 on the PK.
Owen Sikkes made 37 saves improving his playoff save percentage to .935 and his GAA to under two.
Walters and Marshall were the Game Stars.