VICTORIA COUGARS TO MEET THE SAANICH BRAVES THURSDAY

By Peter Kung

The Victoria Cougars (13-2-1) begin a home-and-home series with the Saanich Braves (9-6-2) beginning this Thursday.

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

Both teams are coming off huge wins.  Victoria extended their winning streak to eight games after defeating the Peninsula Panthers 2-1 last Sunday.  Earlier that day, Saanich demolished the Campbell River Storm 8-0.

The Cougars and Braves meet for the third time this season.  In their two previous encounters, Victoria won both games in overtime.

This past week, the Comox Valley Glacier Kings, Kerry Park Islanders, and Panthers were the latest to fall victim to Victoria.  Last Thursday, the Cougars defeated Comox Valley 10-3.  48 hours later, Victoria, a 3-2 winner, handed Kerry Park their first loss of the season.  Then playing their third game in four nights, the Cougars were able to stave off Peninsula.

Karl Hagg continues to lead the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League in scoring with 19 goals and 18 assists in 16 games.

Saanich is an improved team and is on pace to finish over .500 for the first time since 2005.  That year, the Braves finished 29-12-1.  Mark Stinson, a 16-year-old rookie at the time, is the only player on this year’s roster who was part of that team.

Playing on the road has been friendlier for the Braves.  Away from the Pearkes Recreation Centre, Saanich has five wins, two losses, and one overtime loss.  At home, they have four wins, four losses, and one overtime loss.

The Braves have been playing Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde as of late.  Over its last seven games, Saanich has not stung together consecutive wins or losses.

Trevor Yee continues to shine for the Braves.  In his last game, he recorded a goal and a pair of assists.  Yee leads all Saanich scorers with five goals and 18 assists in 17 games.

Goaltender Justin Grevious, who played for the Battle Creek Revolution of the All American Hockey League last season, was in the Victoria Salmon Kings training camp earlier this month.

STANDINGS:  Cougars – 1st place, 27 points, South Island Division.  Braves – 3rd place, 20 points, South Island Division

TEAM LEADERS: Cougars – Karl Hagg, 19 goals; Karl Hagg, 18 assists; Wade Masch, 64 penalty minutes.  Braves – Brad Dick, 11 goals; Trevor Yee, 18 assists; Mark Stinson, 102 penalty minutes

SPECIAL TEAMS: Cougars – Power play: 27.4 percent (28-for-102), 2nd in VIJHL. Penalty kill: 77.0 percent (57-for-74), 7th in VIJHL.  Braves – Power play: 21.2 percent (20-for-94), 3rd in VIJHL. Penalty kill: 87.5 percent (84-for-96), 2nd in VIJHL

GOALTENDERS: Cougars – Max Pelzner (2.67 goals against average; .899 save percentage), Zach Wear (3.82 goals against average; .861 save percentage).  Braves – Justin Grevious (3.37 goals against average; .894 save percentage), Tanner McGaw (3.23 goals against average; .912 save percentage)

LAST TEN GAMES:  Cougars, 9-1-0.  Braves, 6-4-0

SERIES:  Cougars lead series, 2-0-0

PAST AND FUTURE MEETINGS:
Saanich 5 @ Victoria 6 (OT)                                       September 10, 2009

Victoria 5 @ Saanich 4 (OT)                                       September 13, 2009

Victoria @ Saanich                                                     October 30, 2009

Saanich @ Victoria                                                     November 19, 2009

Victoria @ Saanich                                                     December 18, 2009

Saanich @ Victoria                                                     February 11, 2010

Victoria @ Saanich                                                     February 12, 2010

HOME/ROAD RECORDS: Cougars, 6-2-0 at home.  Braves, 5-2-1 on the road