VICTORIA COUGARS SEASON PREVIEW

By Peter Kung

(ISN) — After a disappointing playoff performance last season, the Victoria Cougars look to recapture the glory which won them three Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League titles in the past six years.

Going for four will be no easy task, especially beginning the 2010 campaign with three games in three nights.  However, Mark Van Helvoirt, who enters into his fourth season as Victoria’s head coach, relishes the idea.

“We are looking forward to three games in three nights.  We start off the year playing strong teams.  It will give us a good opportunity to see where we are at and to see what aspects of our game we need to improve,” Van Helvoirt said.  “We have a couple of games on the road which will give the team some extra time together to create that team unity.”

The Cougars begin their twelfth season Thursday, September 9 against the defending league champion Peninsula Panthers; the same team which knocked Victoria out of last year’s playoffs.  Game time at the recently renovated Archie Browning Sports Centre, located at 1151 Esquimalt Road, is 7:15 p.m.  Fans bringing a non-perishable item to the game will be admitted for only $2.  All food items collected will be donated to the Mustard Seed Food Bank.

On Friday, the team is off to Saanich before travelling to Oceanside to round out a hectic opening week.

Throughout the years, Victoria has always been an offensive, high-tempo, puck-possession team.  And this year should be no different.  Van Helvoirt’s teams have finished first overall in scoring every season since he took over from Craig Didmon.  The Cougars scored 226 goals in 2007, 236 in 2008, and 229 in 2009 for a three year average of 4.8 goals per game.

Leading the offense this year will be 20-year-old forward Trevor McNeil and 19-year-old Josh Wyatt.

A 41-goal scorer back in 2007 while playing for the Sooke Stingers, McNeil’s offense compliments his leadership skills and defensive abilities.

“We are expecting Trevor to lead on and off the ice.  He will be a big part of our leadership group this season,” Van Helvoirt said.  “Trevor is a natural goal scorer and we will be counting on him to deliver both offensively and defensively.”

As for Wyatt, who has improved each season (three goals in 2008 and 14 goals in 2009), is primed for a breakout year.  In Victoria’s final preseason game, Wyatt scored four times.

“Josh has all the skills and abilities to be an elite player in this league.  We saw that last season and we will be counting on him again this season,” Van Helvoirt said.

After McNeil and Wyatt, it will be up to the secondary scorers like Chris Bannister and Sam Rice to provide some offense.

But it is Chris Savage and Eric Guthrie, both of whom are entering into their fourth year in the league, who will need to have impact seasons.

“Both of these players have the ability to contribute offensively and become two of the tougher players in the league to play against,” Van Helvoirt said.

Savage, Guthrie, Bannister, and Rice are all capable of 15-goal seasons.

Since the team’s inception, a Cougar player has either won or co-won the league’s rookie of the year award six different times.  Last year, Rice shared the honour with Saanich’s Ty Jones.

This year, there is a good crop of rookie forwards.  However, one player that stands out is Clark Anderson, an import from Colorado.

“Clark is a talented player who we think will fit in well with this year’s club.  He brings a well-rounded game to our line up,” Van Helvoirt said.

Ben Kinshella, a product of the Saanich Minor Hockey Association, Brody Coulter, a product of the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association, and Jake Daughtry, who played last season with the Banff Hockey Academy, also made the team.

Mark Walton just recently returned from Powell River after trying out for the defending BCHL Coastal Conference champion Kings.

The defense is somewhat intact from last year with the exception of Blair Murphy, who is in the United States playing for the Helena Bighorns of the Northern Pacific Hockey League.

After converting from a forward to a defenseman last season, not only did Adam Steenbergen turn his career around, he was named the league’s defenseman of the year.  Steenbergen’s eight goals and 36 assists were tops amongst all defensemen.

While Steenbergen will be putting up the numbers, Mark Meyer will be preventing it.

“Mark will have the opportunity to play against the other team’s top lines on a regular basis,” Van Helvoirt said.  “He will be leaned on this year to shut down the top players around the league.”

Meyer, one of several players in Victoria’s leadership core, will also be counted on to bring along and mentor the younger players.

Rounding out the top five are Scott Mellett, Justin Sotkowy, and Brandan Smith, all of whom are stay-at-home defensemen.  Also patrolling the blue line this year will be 17-year-old Matt Sheeran, who played for the South Island Thunderbirds of the Major Midget League last season.

After goaltender Max Pelzner graduated at the end of last season, two spots were up for grabs.  18-year-old Zach Wear, who was Pelzner’s understudy, claimed one of the jobs after a strong preseason.  Oozing with potential, Wear has a chance to become one of the top goaltenders in the league.  The second goaltending position goes to Corey Koop, an 18-year-old from Squamish, BC.

The coaching staff made one change during the offseason.  Thomas Kala steps in behind the bench.  Returning for their second season are Suneil Karod and goaltending coach Bill Morrison.

Although this year’s version may not be as skilled as some other Cougar teams of the past, it appears that this team will be hard-working and selfless.  And according to Van Helvoirt, he has an excellent group of players who seem to enjoy playing and improving together.

“I’m looking forward to this year’s team.  As a coach, all you can ask for are players who will listen and are constantly striving to improve,” Van Helvoirt said.

Expectations are high.

YEE TO CAPTAIN JUNIOR BRAVES FOR 2010-2011

(ISN) — New captain of the Saanich Junior Braves for the 2010-2011 season is veteran forward, all-star and MVP Trevor Yee.

“Trevor is a natural athlete, has exceptional skills and works hard at all times on and off the ice,” said new Braves head coach Robin Gomez.

“Trevor is a natural leader and my first choice for the position.”

The Braves start their season today on the road at Bear Mountain Arena versus the Westshore Stingers.

Game time is 7:30.

The Junior Braves home opener is Friday at George Pearkes Arena versus the Victoria Cougars. Game time is 6:30.

FIVE VANCOUVER ISLAND PLAYERS SELECTED IN 2010 WHL BANTAM ENTRY DRAFT

By Christian J. Stewart

(ISN) — Five players from Vancouver Island were selected in the 2010 Western Hockey League  Bantam Entry Draft held Thursday in Edmonton.

Leading the way was smooth-skating Nanaimo defenceman Tyson Harvey who was

selected in the second round (35th overall) by the Kamloops Blazers.   

Cowichan Valley’s speedy centre Steen Cooper was the 74th overall pick and was selected by the Portland Winterhawks in the fourth round.  

Victoria defenceman Nolan DeJong, a Saanich Minor Hockey product, was picked by the Regina Pats in the seventh round (137th overall).

Centre Jack Palmer, also of Victoria, and playing out of the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association, was selected 175th overall in the eighth round by the Brandon Wheat Kings.  

Finally, Parksville defenceman Chandler Bruyckere, playing at Notre Dame Academy, was selected in the ninth round (194th overall) by the Everett Silvertips.

DeJong, who had 12 goals, 29 assists and a whopping +31 rating in just 29 games for the Saanich Braves Bantam AA team this past season and who was a regular call-up to the Midget AAA South Island Thunderbirds, was excited about being selected.

“It’s a thrill and a great honor to be drafted by the Regina Pats. It’s also a great feeling to be recognized playing the game I love.”  

Regina Pats Director of Scouting, Todd Ripplinger, in a release on the Regina Pats website notes that, “Nolan is a very skilled defenceman who skates well and has a great stride. He is a character player and handles himself very well on the ice.”

Juan de Fuca’s Palmer, who helped guide his team to the Bantam AA Provincial Championship this season, said he was very honoured to be drafted.

“I was very surprised that more Island players were not selected.”  

Many casual hockey observers on the Island would agree with this statement and as evidenced by the recent BC Hockey U16 evaluation camp held in Lake Cowichan in March, there was certainly a large amount of hockey talent here on the Island to choose from.

However the number of players drafted is on par with the 2009 draft which also saw five players from the Island selected.

The WHL Bantam Draft is an annual affair that is the first step in identifying graduating bantam age prospects (14- and 15-year-olds) as WHL clubs select players to add in an orderly manner to their Protected Player list.

While this draft is the first opportunity for teams to select bantam players, it is not the last chance for a player to be listed.

After the draft is completed, all the remaining bantams become eligible to be listed by teams, and many will be added as spots become available on Club’s PPLs, or as a player’s talents improve or are more noticeable at a later date or at a higher level of hockey.

SAANICH BRAVES WIN AT 1st DEBBIE COOPER MEMORIAL HOCKEY TOURNAMENT

 

 

 

By Christian J. Stewart

The Saanich Braves Bantam C1 Hockey Club finished off a successful 2009-2010 season by capturing the Bantam Major (B Pool)  title with a 5-2 victory over Juan de Fuca Grizzlies C1 at the first annual Debbie Cooper Memorial Bantam C (13-14 year old) Hockey tournament that was held at Bear Mountain arena over the weekend.

The tournament, hosted by the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association and in memory of long-time Juan de Fuca hockey mom, community supporter and volunteer Debbie Cooper who passed away suddenly  last November, featured 12 teams including the C1 and C4 Braves, the C1, C2, C3 and C4 Grizzlies, the Peninsula Eagles C1, C2 and C4, Seafair C1, the Lake Cowichan Lakers and the Seattle Admirals.

The C1 Braves went undefeated in the tournament with round robin victories over Seafair, Juan de Fuca C1 and Peninsula C1 and then soundly defeated Peninsula C1 in the semi-final to earn the re-match with the C1 Grizzlies.

In the final, the Braves jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period and never looked back, as a relentless forecheck and solid defence and goaltending stymied the Grizzlies for most of the game.

In the Bantam Minor Divison (A Pool), a powerful Seattle Admirals team came north of the border to steal the hardware as they also completed an undefeated run at the tournament by punishing Peninsula C4 10-0 in the final game.

Earlier round robin wins came against Lake Cowichan, Saanich C4 and Juan de Fuca C4 and then a semi-final win over Lake Cowichan.

All proceeds from the tournament, including over $3,000 raised through tournament raffles, silent auctions, 50/50 draws, etc. will be donated in Debbie Coopers name to Athletics For Kids (A4K), an organization that helps kids play sports with financial support.

More images from this game may be found at christianjstewart.zenfolio.com/cooper

 

 

 

PANTHERS FEND OFF COUGARS, TAKE 2-0 SERIES LEAD

 

 

By Peter Kung

Once again the Victoria Cougars are making life difficult for themselves.

Tanner Carter scored a goal and added an assist as the Peninsula Panthers beat Victoria 3-1 Thursday night to take a 2-0 series lead.

Game 3 of the South Island Division final goes Friday night in Peninsula.

Also twinkling the twine for the visiting Panthers were Mike Colantone and Evan Campbell.

It was a defensive struggle as each team managed only 17 shots on goal. One of those shots came off the stick of Eric Guthrie, who made things interesting down the stretch.

On a power play, Guthrie scored his first goal of the playoffs with five minutes

and 32-seconds remaining in the game. Standing to the left of goaltender Brady Berisoff, Guthrie tipped home a Trevor McNeil pass to pull the Cougars to within one.

 

But with 46.3 seconds to go, Campbell gave Peninsula insurance with an empty net goal. It was the second game in a row that Campbell has driven a stake through the hearts of Victoria fans. In Game 1, the former Creston Valley Thunder Cat recorded three points which included scoring the insurance goal in a 4-2 win.

Cougars’ netminder Max Pelzner got the hometown crowd at the Archie Browning Sports Centre buzzing early. Three minutes in, Pelzner slid post to post to rob Carson Baillie. And then two minutes later, Brent Lucenete sprung Baillie loose on a breakaway only to have Pelzner come up big once again.

However, all good things would come to an end. At 11:14, Pelzner made the original save off a slap shot from Brian Cross. But the rebound came out front to Carter who backhanded the puck into the net for his third goal of the playoffs.

Jesse Grieve gave Victoria its best chance of the period when his slap shot came close to finding its way through Berisoff’s legs.

The Panthers went ahead 2-0 at 2:17 of the second period on a power play goal by Colantone. With referee Steve Bratt’s arm raised to signal another Cougar penalty which would have put them down two men, Colantone banged home a Joe Densmore rebound for his second goal of the series.

Playing shorthanded, Wade Masch broke in all alone with two and a half minutes remaining in the period but his backhander was turned aside by Berisoff. Then with 30 seconds left before the second intermission, Berisoff kicked out his right pad at the last possible moment to preserve a two goal lead.

Early in the third period, Cougars’ defenseman Justin Sotkowy rang the puck off the goal post with a slap shot.

Victoria went 1-for-8 on the power play while the Panthers went 1-for-4.

The game ended with Jake Bryan taking a slashing penalty with five seconds left.

Several key players were out of the lineup for both teams. Not playing were Cougars’ forward Josh Wyatt (injury) and Peninsula forwards Tyrell Turgeon (suspension) and Cole Thomson (injury).

Victoria, which eventually won 4-3, dropped the first two games in its opening round series against the Saanich Braves.

In the North Island Division final, the Comox Valley Glacier Kings defeated the Kerry Park Islanders 6-1 Thursday to take a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 goes Saturday night in Kerry Park.

 

THREE STARS: 1st star, Joe Densmore (Peninsula). 2nd star, Scott Mellett (Victoria). 3rd star, Tanner Carter (Peninsula)

 

NEXT AWAY GAME (GAME 3): Victoria Cougars at Peninsula Panthers on Friday, March 12. Game time at the Panorama Recreation Centre, located at 1885 Forest Park Drive, is 7:30 p.m.

NEXT HOME GAME (GAME 4): Peninsula Panthers at Victoria Cougars on Sunday, March 14. Game time at the Archie Browning Sports Centre, located at 1151 Esquimalt Road, is 7:15 p.m.

VICTORIA COUGARS SEEK REVENGE IN GAME 2

By Peter Kung

The Victoria Cougars will be looking for redemption tonight when they return home to face the Peninsula Panthers.

Game time at the Archie Browning Sports Centre, located at 1151 Esquimalt Road, is 7:15 p.m.

Drawing first blood, Peninsula leads the Cougars 1-0 going into Game 2 of their South Island Division final.

On Monday, the hometown Panthers came away with a 4-2 victory.  Backed by a power play goal from Mike Scarborough, a shorthanded goal from Evan Campbell, and an even strength goal from Mike Colantone, Peninsula went into the first intermission with a three goal lead.

Monday’s tilt was the eighth game in 12 nights for the Cougars, which survived a grueling seven game series with the Saanich Braves.

Trevor McNeil, who had been sidelined for the last ten games because of an upper body injury, provided the offense for Victoria.  After McNeil cut the Panther lead to one at 4:15 of the third period, Campbell scored 80 seconds later to put the game out of reach.

The Cougars outshot Peninsula 26-23.

Jimmy Carter leads all Victoria players in scoring with five goals and eight assists.

Leading the way for the Panthers is Brent Lucente who has four goals and four assists.

Since 2002, the Cougars and Peninsula have met in the South Island Division final six times.  Victoria won the title in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008.  The Panthers last won it was back in 2003.

Game 3 goes Friday in Peninsula before the series shifts back to the A.B.S.C. Sunday for Game 4.

In the North Island Division final, the Comox Valley Glacier Kings has a 1-0 series lead over the Kerry Park Islanders.  Game 2 goes Thursday night in Comox Valley.

This year’s Cyclone Taylor Cup tournament will be held April 1-4 in Parksville, British Columbia.  Joining the host Oceanside Generals will be the champions from the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, Pacific International Junior Hockey League, and Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.

TEAM LEADERS:  Victoria – Jimmy Carter, Josh Wyatt, 5 goals; Jimmy Carter, 8 assists; Jimmy Carter, 13 points; Blair Murphy, Justin Sotkowy, 12 penalty minutes.  Peninsula – Gerry Fitzgerald, 5 goals; Josh Bryan, 7 assists; Brent Lucente, 8 points; Brent Lucente, 24 penalty minutes

SPECIAL TEAMS:  Victoria – Power play: 21.6 percent (11-for-51). Penalty kill: 93.5 percent (29-for-31).  Peninsula – Power play: 26.1 percent (6-for-23). Penalty kill: 87.5 percent (28-for-32)

GOALTENDERS:  Victoria – Max Pelzner (2.31 goals against average; .907 save percentage), Zach Wear (no appearances).  Peninsula – Brady Berisoff (2.00 goals against average; .910 save percentage), Lukas Simpson (1.00 goals against average; .969 save percentage)

SERIES:  Peninsula leads, 1-0

PAST AND FUTURE MEETINGS:
Victoria 2 @ Peninsula 4                                            March 8, 2010
Victoria @ Peninsula                                                  March 12, 2010
Peninsula @ Victoria                                                  March 14, 2010
Victoria @ Peninsula (if necessary)                            March 15, 2010
Peninsula @ Victoria (if necessary)                            March 18, 2010
Victoria @ Peninsula (if necessary                             March 19, 2010

HOME/ROAD RECORDS:  Victoria, 3-1 at home.  Peninsula, 2-0 on the road

PANTHERS OUTCLAW COUGARS 4-2

By Peter Kung

The Panorama Recreation Centre was the site for Game 1 of the South Island Division Final between the Victoria Cougars and Peninsula Panthers.

Peninsula found the back of the net three times in the first period en route to a 4-2 victory and a one game best-of-7 series lead.

Eric Campbell, who was named the game’s first star, led the way with two goals and one assist. Also scoring for the hometown Panthers were Mike Scarborough and Mike Colantone.

Goaltender Brady Berisoff made 24 saves on 26 shots for the win.

Coming straight from a grueling seven game series with the Saanich Braves, Victoria looked tired in the early going. However, a pair of goals by Trevor McNeil pulled the Cougars to within one but let the game slip away when Campbell notched his second of the night a quarter of the way through the third period.

Peninsula picked up the win despite losing two of their players early in the game. Left winger Cole Thomson, who in early January was acquired from the Kerry Park Islanders in exchange for James Kellington, had to be helped off the ice two minutes in after getting injured behind the Victoria net.

Then four minutes later, defenseman Kurtis Rumenovich was assessed an automatic game misconduct after hitting Anthony Hordyk into the boards from behind.

Scarborough opened the scoring on a power play when his wrist shot from the point sailed through a crowd and in at 3:45.

Playing shorthanded, the Panthers went ahead 2-0 at 7:21. After weaving through a couple of Victoria defenders, Campbell scored top shelf for his first goal of the postseason.

Colantone, who began the season in the Eastern Junior Hockey League while playing for the New Jersey Hitmen and Philadelphia Revolution, snapped a wrist shot past netminder Max Pelzner at 17:22.

Victoria got on the board at 1:21 of the second period when McNeil scored from Justin Sotkowy and Tommy Kala. McNeil, who had missed the last ten games because of an injury, scored his second of the night at 4:15 of the third period after one-timing a Jimmy Carter centering pass.

But 80 seconds later, Campbell took a drop pass from Scarborough and buried the puck low glove side.

Making his eight straight postseason start in net, Pelzner stopped 19 shots.

Each team had five power play opportunities.

Prior to Monday’s game, the Cougars had played seven games in eleven nights which included Sunday’s series clinching win over Saanich.

The Panthers have not played since March 3.

THREE STARS: 1st star, Eric Campbell (Peninsula). 2nd star, Mike Scarborough (Peninsula). 3rd star, Brady Berisoff (Peninsula)

NEXT HOME GAME (GAME 2): Peninsula Panthers at Victoria Cougars on Thursday, March 11. Game time at the Archie Browning Sports Centre, located at 1151 Esquimalt Road, is 7:15 p.m.

NEXT AWAY GAME (GAME 3): Victoria Cougars at Peninsula Panthers on Friday, March 12. Game time at the Panorama Recreation Centre, located at 1885 Forest Park Drive, is 7:30 p.m.

COUGARS BOUNCE BRAVES FROM POSTSEASON PLAY

 

The Comox Glacier Kings take on the Kerry Park Islanders starting Tuesday  for the VIJHL North Division Final

 

 

By Peter Kung

With their season on the line, the Victoria Cougars came through with a dominating performance.

Jimmy Carter scored once and added a pair of assists and Max Pelzner made 29 saves to lead Victoria to a 5-1 series clinching win over the Saanich Braves Sunday night.

Battling back from 2-0 and 3-1 series deficits, the Cougars will now face the Peninsula Panthers in the South Island Division Final, which begins Monday in Peninsula.

 

 

 

Also scoring for Victoria was Sam Rice, Anthony Hordyk, Chris Bannister, and Tommy Kala.

 

Travis Stephens replied for the Braves.

Carter opened the scoring late in the first period but not before some brilliant goaltending from Pelzner and Tanner McGaw.

Pelzner made 13 saves in the period which included stopping Blaine Carey, who was in the slot at the time, and then making a save off Ty Jones, who deflected the puck from the side of the net.

Not to be outdone, McGaw got a piece of Jesse Grieve’s slap shot and then reached behind and grabbed the puck before it trickled into the net. McGaw, who also faced 13 shots in the period, flashed the leather to rob Carter of a sure goal.

But Carter would get the last laugh after he beat the Saanich netminder with 2:51 remaining. On a power play, Carter wristed the puck top shelf from the slot to give the hometown Cougars a 1-0 lead. Assisting on Carter’s fifth postseason goal was Hordyk and Rice.

With one minute left in the period, McGaw got his blocker on Kala’s backhander and then with 22 seconds remaining before the first intermission, Pelzner got a piece of Trevor Yee’s slap shot which was labeled for the top corner.

There was no scoring until the 10:21 mark of the second period when Rice redirected a pass from Carter. Adam Steenbergen, held pointless in his last four games, picked up the second assist.

 

 

 

Late in the period, Cougars’ defenseman Kai Ohs and Ian Ellenberger got into a skirmish. After the dust settled, Saanich received a power play that carried over into the third period. But the power play was negated 19 seconds into the final frame when Sam Waterfield received a double minor for roughing, a ten minute misconduct, and a game misconduct.

 

Wade Masch, who was jostling with Waterfield, was assessed a two minute minor for his part.

Waterfield’s antics cost the Braves a goal, which was scored at 2:04. From the blue line, Carter fed the puck down low to Hordyk who found the back of the net on his second attempt. Scott Mellett with the second helper.

38 seconds after Hordyk’s goal, Chris Bannister, with assists going to Mark Meyer and Masch, gave Victoria a 4-0 lead.

McGaw, who had stopped 26-of-30 shots to that point, had to leave the game because of an injury. His replacement was Ben Kantor, who had gotten the start in Games 4, 5, and 6.

Saanich got on the board at 7:36 when Stephens wired a ten foot slap shot past Pelzner.

But with 1:02 remaining in the game, Kala beat Kantor five-hole after taking a stretch pass from Brandon Smith. Kantor made nine saves in relief.

Then with less than half a minute to play, referee Adam Griffiths tossed Ryan Komori and Matt Maycock from the game after the pair tried to start a fight with anyone .

The Cougars went 2-for-7 on the power play to finish the series 11-for-46.

After scoring its first goal of the series on the power play, Saanich went 0-for-25 over its last six games which included going 0-for-4 tonight.

It was the final game for Braves’ forwards Mark Stinson, Ryan Toporowski, Komori, and Maycock. All four players are 20-years-old and in their last year of junior eligibility.

In the Northern Division play-offs, the Comox Valley Glacier Kings defeated the Oceanside Generals 4-2 on Friday night, eliminating them in six games (4-2).

They advance to the North Island final and will meet the Kerry Park Islanders in the second round on Tuesday. Earlier in the week, the Islanders defeated the Campbell River Storm in five games.

 

 

 

THREE STARS: 1st star, Max Pelzner (Victoria). 2nd star, Jimmy Carter (Victoria). 3rd star, Mark Meyer (Victoria)

NEXT AWAY GAME (GAME 1): Victoria Cougars at Peninsula Panthers on Monday, March 8. Game time at the Panorama Recreation Centre, located at 1885 Forest Park Drive, is 7:30 p.m.

NEXT HOME GAME (GAME 2): Peninsula Panthers at Victoria Cougars on Thursday, March 11. Game time at the Archie Browning Sports Centre, located at 1151 Esquimalt Road, is 7:15 p.m.

The schedule:

The Victoria Cougars will meet the Peninsula Panthers in a best-of-seven series with the winner advancing to the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League Final.

GAME 1:
Victoria Cougars @ Peninsula Panthers
Monday, March 8
Panorama Recreation Centre
7:30 p.m.

GAME 2:
Peninsula Panthers @ Victoria Cougars
Thursday, March 11
Archie Browning Sports Centre
7:15 p.m.

GAME 3:
Victoria Cougars @ Peninsula Panthers
Friday, March 12
Panorama Recreation Centre
7:30 p.m.

GAME 4:
Peninsula Panthers @ Victoria Cougars
Sunday, March 14
Archie Browning Sports Centre
7:15 p.m.

GAME 5 (if necessary):
Victoria Cougars @ Peninsula Panthers
Monday, March 15
Panorama Recreation Centre
7:30 p.m.

GAME 6 (if necessary):
Peninsula Panthers @ Victoria Cougars
Thursday, March 18
Archie Browning Sports Centre
7:15 p.m.

GAME 7 (if necessary):
Victoria Cougars @ Peninsula Panthers
Friday, March 19
Panorama Recreation Centre
7:30 p.m.

Northern Division Schedule:

Game 1 – Tuesday, March 9th in Kerry Park @ 7:30 p.m.
Game 2 – Thursday, March 11th in Comox Valley @ 7:30 p.m.
Game 3 – Saturday, March 13th in Kerry Park @ 7:30 p.m.
Game 4 – TO BE DETERMINED
Game 5 – Tuesday, March 16th in Kerry Park @ 7:30 p.m.
Game 6 – TO BE DETERMINED
Game 7 – Saturday, March 20th in Kerry Park @ 7:30 p.m.

DO OR DIE TODAY IN EPIC COUGARS-BRAVES SERIES

By Peter Kung

It’s do or die time for both the Victoria Cougars and Saanich Braves when Game 7 of their South Island Division Semi-Final goes tonight in Victoria.

Game time at the Archie Browning Sports Centre, located at 1151 Esquimalt Rd., is 7:15 p.m.

The Cougars avoided elimination for the second time with a 4-3 victory Friday night.  Tommy Kala scored a pair of goals while Justin Sotkowy and Jimmy Carter each chipped in with singles.  Goaltender Max Pelzner, who was making his sixth straight postseason start, stopped 27-of-30 shots for the win.

In Game 5 and trailing 3-1 in the series, Victoria won 4-1.  That game, Carter and Trevor Yee exchanged first period goals before Josh Wyatt, who scored twice, and Chris Savage gave the Cougars a three goal lead after 40 minutes.  Pelzner made 26 saves which included stopping all 13 shots in the second period and all six shots in the third.

The series has been close with four games having been decided by a goal.  Two of those games were decided in overtime.

Through six games, which include triple overtime in Game 4, Victoria has outshot the Braves 271 to 162.

Both teams will again be without their superstars.  Still out with injuries are Cougars’ forward Trevor McNeil and Saanich’s forward Wade Murphy.  Both players have not played since the regular season.

Carter leads all Victoria scorers with four goals and five assists.

With two goals and three assists, Ryan Komori leads the way for the Braves.

Sunday’s winner will advance to play the Peninsula Panthers in the South Island Division Final.

The North Island Division Final has the Kerry Park Islanders taking on the Comox Valley Glacier Kings.  Game 1 of that series goes Tuesday night in Kerry Park.

This year’s Cyclone Taylor Cup tournament will be held in Parksville, British Columbia from April 1-4.

TEAM LEADERS:  Victoria – Josh Wyatt, 5 goals; Jimmy Carter, Sam Rice, 5 assists; Jimmy Carter, 9 points; Blair Murphy, Tommy Kala, Justin Sotkowy, 10 penalty minutes.  Saanich – Trevor Yee, 3 goals; Ryan Komori, Mark Stinson, 3 assists; Ryan Komori, 5 points; Ryan Toporowski, Matt Maycock, 16 penalty minutes

SPECIAL TEAMS:  Victoria – Power play: 23.1 percent (9-for-39). Penalty kill: 95.5 percent (21-for-22).  Saanich – Power play: 4.5 percent (1-for-22). Penalty kill: 76.9 percent (30-for-39)

GOALTENDERS:  Victoria – Max Pelzner (2.26 goals against average; .907 save percentage), Zach Wear (no appearances).  Saanich – Ben Kantor (2.35 goals against average; .940 save percentage), Tanner McGaw (4.26 goals against average; .902 save percentage)

SERIES:  Series tied, 3-3

PAST AND FUTURE MEETINGS:
Saanich 4 @ Victoria 3                                   February 25, 2010
Victoria 3 @ Saanich 4 (OT)                           February 26, 2010
Saanich 1 @ Victoria 6                                   February 28, 2010
Victoria 1 @ Saanich 2 (3OT)                         March 2, 2010
Saanich 1 @ Victoria 4                                   March 4, 2010
Victoria 4 @ Saanich 3                                   March 5, 2010

HOME/ROAD RECORDS:  Victoria, 2-1 at home; 1-2 on the road.  Saanich, 1-2 on the road; 2-1 at home

DOWN TO THE WIRE FOR COUGARS, BRAVES

By Peter Kung

The Victoria Cougars staved off elimination Friday by beating the Saanich Braves 4-3 to force a Game 7 in their South Island Division Semi-Final.

Saanich had a 3-1 series lead but is now tied after two straight Cougar wins.  Game 7 goes Sunday night in Victoria.

Braves’ Travis Stephens opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period.  After digging the puck out of a scrum from behind the Cougar net, Sam McMullen centered the puck to Stephens who beat Max Pelzner short side at 3:39.

Tommy Kala, who was assessed a ten-minute misconduct in the first period, scored his first of two at 5:51 of the middle frame.  From the side wall, Kala sent a rocket past Ben Kantor who was screened on the play.  Then at 11:07 and on a nice individual effort from Justin Sotkowy, the rugged defenseman found the back of the net for his first goal of the postseason.

But only one minute and 48-seconds later, Alex Wong sent the two teams to the second intermission tied at two apiece when he rang the puck off the post and in during a breakaway.  

After back-and-forth action from both teams in the third period, the large contingent of Victoria fans who travelled to the Pearkes Recreation Centre erupted when Kala scored at 11:05.  Deep in his own zone, Adam Steenbergen sent a long diagonal pass to Josh Wyatt.  Taking a few steps in, Wyatt dropped the puck back to Kala who wired it just underneath the crossbar.

Then at 13:42, Jimmy Carter scored into a wide open cage after Kantor misplayed the puck.  As it turned out, Kantor’s mishandling of the puck became the game winner because Trevor Crosby lit the lamp with a shorthanded goal two minutes later.

With Kantor pulled for an extra attacker, Trevor Yee sent the puck out front to Ryan Komori who had his shot stopped by Pelzner with 8.1 seconds remaining.

The Cougars outshot Saanich 38-30.

Victoria went 1-for-5 on the power play while the Braves went 0-for-3.  And for the second time in the series, Saanich’s assistant coach Greg Batters received a game misconduct at the 20 minute mark of the third period.

Sunday’s winner will advance to the South Island Division Final and face the Peninsula Panthers.

In other action around the VIJHL:

Comox Valley Glacier Kings 4, Oceanside Generals 2 (Glacier Kings win series 4-2)

THREE STARS:  Unavailable

NEXT GAME (GAME 7):  Saanich Braves at Victoria Cougars on Sunday, March 7. Game time at the Archie Browning Sports Centre, located at 1151 Esquimalt Road, is 7:15 p.m.

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