VIJHL Playoff Summary – Opening Round Updates
Peninsula Panthers #8 Campbell River #1 SERIES TIED AT 3
If there has been one series that points to the parity in the VIJHL, it’s this one. The Campbell River Storm edged the Peninsula Panthers 3-1 on Friday night to force a Game 7 at the Brindy on Sunday (8:15 pm).
All six games have been close ones: Panthers wins of 4-2, 2-1 (2OT) and 4-3 and Storm wins of 4-2, 3-2 (3OT) and 3-1.
On Friday night, Tyler Chyzowski, with his third of the postseason, opened the scoring at 17:31 of the first. In the second, Mike Dyck put Campbell River up by two, a lead that hasn’t been a safe one in this series.
The Panthers have been good in the third period and an early powerplay goal from Jonah Ragsdale made for a nail-biting finish until with less than 15 seconds left, Josh Pederson found the empty net.
If Game 7 lives up to the buildup these two teams have generated, it should be a tight game with the hardest working team coming out on top.
Saanich Advances 4 Games to 2.
On Friday night, the Saanich Braves defeated the Kerry Park Islanders 4-0 at the Pearkes to take the series in 6 games.
Anderson Violette made 33 stops for the shutout and was full value as the game’s star. He also picked up an assist.
After a scoreless first, Jakob McQuillin scored late in the middle frame taking a 1-0 lead into the third. Jackson Estey scored at the 1:52 mark and the Braves took over the game adding goals from Zach Guerra and Gavin Grewal.
As much as the Storm/Panthers series may have been a surprise, so has this one. The Braves have found their game and look like the club that went to the finals last season.
The Braves won’t know their second round opponent until Sunday night.
The VIJHL would like to acknowledge the Islanders 20’s who now graduate from junior hockey; Tanner Tiel, Rett Rook, Romaeo D’Intinio and Avery Neilsen-Webb.
Victoria Advances in 5 games.
The Cougars defeated the Oceanside Generals at the Arch on Thursday 4-1 to move onto the VIJHL semifinals.
Scoring for the Cougars were Marshall Brown, Spencer Golden (GWG), Kevan McBean and Foster Martin. Ryan Ignace earned the lone Generals goal early in the second.
The first four games in the series were all decided by a single goal with one game going to overtime.
The Cougars won’t know their second round opponent until Sunday night.
The VIJHL would like to acknowledge the Generals 20’s who now graduate from junior hockey; Ryan Ignace, Brent Koch, Dayton Keith and Matteo Giomo.
Buccaneers Advance in 5 games
On Wednesday night the Nanaimo Buccaneers scored three in the first enroute to a 5-3 win over the Westshore Wolves on Thursday at the Pirate Ship.
Scoring for the Bucs were Chase Fioretti, Darian Harris, Billy Walters, Lucas Patton and Riley Gannon. Wolves’ goals came from Jake Veilleux, Keegan Durrance and Tyler Stinchcombe.
This series hinged on the first two games in which the Bucs pulled out overtime wins in both.
The Buccaneers won’t know their second round opponent until Sunday night.
The VIJHL would like to acknowledge the Wolves 20’s who now graduate from junior hockey; Chase O’Keefe, Jordan Spandli, Cameron Kinsman, Cole Gardner, Parker Ellis, Jarret Malloch and Clark Pickup.