Two OT losses have Cougars in a hole
GAME DAY: CAMPBELL RIVER AT VICTORIA 7 p.m. at Archie Browning Sports Centre
Fans attending the best-ofseven Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League championship series between the Victoria Cougars and Campbell River Storm have received extra value over the opening two games of the series.
The Storm lead the matchup between the two best regular-season teams by a 2-0 margin, but it’s taken a pair of 3-2 overtime results to get there against the three-time defending champion Cougars
The latest was a doubleovertime result in the fever-pitched series on Tuesday night at Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River, which followed the opener on Sunday at Archie Browning Sports Centre.
Game 3 goes tonight at 7 back at The Arch as the Cougars have not yet managed to weather the Storm, who have rained on Victoria’s home-ice advantage parade in the race to the Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy.
Game 4 goes back at Rod Brind-Amour at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, so tonight is an obvious must-win for coach Mark Van Helvoirt’s Cougars, who didn’t arrive in Victoria until 3 a.m. Wednesday after Kobe Oishi scored at 16:36 of the second overtime period up Island.
“Obviously, the circumstances we’re now in are not ideal, but it’s not time to dwell on the past here. We have to focus the next game,” said Van Helvoirt.
“Some of our directions have been a little misguided. We’ve spent too much time in the penalty box, which has got us into trouble,” he added. “Their discipline has been very good.”
The Storm were 2-for-8 on the power play in Game 2, with former Cougar, Dane Feeney, cashing in on the pair. Kobe Oishi notched the game-winner at 16:36 of the second overtime.
Devin Mackey replied with both goals for visiting Victoria, which fought back from a 2-0 deficit, but finished the night 0-for-3 on special teams, although one was a shortened advantage.
“We need to make a few small adjustments in game plan and strategy, but it’s most important that we get back on task here,” said Van Helvoirt. “There really isn’t much that has separated the two teams. Both special teams are good and lines one through four and defencemen one through six are very good on both sides.”
The winner of this series advances to the Cyclone Taylor Cup, slated for April 3-6 at the Mission Leisure Centre, which includes the champions of the VIJHL, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and the Pacific Junior Hockey League. The Mission City Outlaws will compete as hosts.
LOOSE PUCKS: Game 2 was delayed after the first period when medical assistance was required in the Victoria dressing room as Ryan Buse became ill. “At that point we weren’t sure what it was and at that stage you weren’t worrying about wins or losses,” said Van Helvoirt. It was later determined the defenceman had a panic or anxiety attack. He was being tended to just outside the Cougars’ room when he lost consciousness, which pushed the game back even further. “All is good now, but at the time we weren’t sure what we were dealing with.”