VIJHL Game Summary 17.1.25
Top Prospects South 3 Top Prospects North 2
In Salmon Arm, the Top Prospects South Division team scored the first three goals of the game and held on for a tight 3-2 win over the Top Prospects North in a feature game for the top 16-18 year old players in the VIJHL at the first annual VIJHL-BCHL All Star & Prospects Showcase event.
Rylan Davis of the Kerry Park Islanders, Jacob Bernardo of the Victoria Cougars and Brendan Williams of the Peninsula Panthers were the goal scorers for Top Prospects South, who led 2-0 and 3-2 by periods. Peninsula netminders Jacob Walsh and Merik Grinaker combined for 25 saves.
Logan Vigneault of the Campbell River Storm and Jaxin Karst of the Nanaimo Buccaneers tallied for the North, who had Josh Nuttall of the Oceanside Generals and Evan Grant of the Port Alberni Bombers joined forces to stop 25 shots in the contest.
Saturday, the VIJHL All Star Game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in Salmon Arm.
Comox Valley 3 Campbell River Storm 5
Third star Miko Duplain was tremendous in blocking 47 shots to help the host North Division leading Campbell River Storm outlast the Comox Valley Glacier Kings 5-3 before 673 fans at Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Friday night VIJHL action.
First star Logan Wright, second star Dylan Toth, Thomas Curri, Dominic Grieco and Lucas Beaudoin scored goals for Campbell River (26-8-5), which led 2-1 and 5-1 by periods.
Comox Valley (15-19-3) had Kyle Mayenburg, Jake Gislason and Brigham Nye dent the twine, as Luca Vanzo blocked 31 pucks on the night.
Oceanside 1 Lake Cowichan 2 (OT)
First star Bevin Williams scored at 4:42 of overtime to lift the surging Lake Cowichan Kraken to a 2-1 decision over the Oceanside Generals at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena.
Tanner Ferrill kicked out 30 attempts to crack the Kraken cage and earned third star honours, with Lake Cowichan’s Kananga Mangala earning the second star badge. The hosts moved to 16-20-2-1 and with 35 points holds a two point lead over Comox Valley in third spot in the North Division. Drury Lamb also scored for the sea monsters.
Grady Dragani’s first period marker gave the Generals (7-25-4) a 1-0 lead after the first period, with the second period ending in a 1-1 tie. Hunter Farrer had 37 saves in the Generals goal.
Saanich 1 Peninsula 0
William Rose posted a 32 save shutout and was named first star as the Saanich Predators blanked the Peninsula Panthers 1-0 in front of 214 spectators at the Panorama Recreation Centre.
Matt Kerr in the second period was the only Predator to solve Panthers netminder Alexei Booth, who made 17 saves and was named second star. Peninsula’s Markus Nichols was third star in the contest.
Peninsula (28-6-2-1) remains on top of the South Division with 59 points, three up on the Kerry Park Islanders. Saanich moved to 10-24-3 on the season.