Cougars, Braves stay focused on the now
Top teams in the South on collision course as VIJHL playoffs get underway
Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League fans in the South Division are eagerly anticipating a clash between the Saanich Braves and Victoria Cougars, but coaches of the two teams know better than to project ahead.
The first-place overall Cougars, who were 35-8-0-5 over the regular-season, face the pesky Westshore Wolves (20-23-2-3) beginning Thursday at 7 p.m. at Archie Browning Sports Centre in Round 1 of the post-season.
Meanwhile, the second-place Braves (25-15-1-3) face the Kerry Park Islanders (22-24-1-1) starting tonight at 7:30 at Pearkes Arena. The Islanders had a strong second half, finishing third in the South, which will not be overlooked, insisted Saanich head coach and GM Brad Cook.
“You better not be looking past them or you’ll be watching them play in the second round if you do,” said Cook.
“They were one of the best, if not the best, down the stretch. They went through a spurt the last little bit where they scored a lot of goals. We have to play our game and execute. There are no freebies. I think it will be a very good series, very competitive.”
Unlike most other series, which are changing venues every game, the Braves will play the first two at home Wednesday and Friday before venturing over the Malahat on Saturday and Tuesday.
The Braves have lost their last three meeting to the Islanders, all by 3-2 scores, including two on Feb. 3 and 7 (with one in overtime).
“There was a lot of emotion and a lot of extra curricular activities, if you will,” Cook said of the recent clashes. “Their goaltending has been good and towards the end they made acquisitions for a couple of 20-year-olds to solidify their lineup. They’re a hard-working team, with good structure.”
Saanich is led by Nick Guerra, the league’s top scorer with 48 goals in 45 games and the VIJHL’s top point-getter with 81. He earned the top scorer, top forward and league MVP honours and drawing some attention from schools, including NCAA Division III.
Kerry Park is led by captain Jacob Malloch. “Otherwise it’s by committee with that team,” said Cook.
As for the Cougars, head coach Suneil Karod will not take the Wolves lightly.
“I’ve been saying this, and [former head coach] Mark Van Helvoirt and I have said this for years — if you start looking that far ahead you forget about what’s right in front of you. The next thing you know you get surprised,” said Karod.
This one definitely looks like a mismatch on paper, however. The perennial powerhouse Cougars have experienced an outstanding February, with seven straight wins including two 5-3 victories over Saanich and two more over Campbell River — 5-2 at home and 3-2 up Island.
The latter, on Feb. 17, clinched first-place overall and home-ice advantage throughout the entire playoffs.
“Anthony Ciurro was lights out in that last game,” Karod said of his netminder. “They out-shot us 38-19. That was the only reason we won that game.”
Grayden Hohl, Tyler Vanuden, Nick Gomerich, Dom Kolbeins and Jordan Passmore were the Cougars’ top five scorers this season. Gomerich and Kyle Wade are expected to be out for this first series after picking up injuries over the last two weeks of play.
Victoria will focus its attention on shutting down Westshore forwards Brandon Tutte, Parker Ellis, Cameron Coutre and Cory Hatcher and high-scoring defenceman Joe Gage.
Meanwhile, the Campbell River Storm (34-12-0-2) will face the Peninsula Panthers (9-36-0-3), who won their play-in challenge game against Oceanside, 3-2 on Monday night to advance to the playoffs.
The Nanaimo Buccaneers (31-16-0-1) meet the Comox Valley Glacier Kings (21-21-1-5) in the other North Division series. All confrontations are best-of-seven affairs.
In a strange bit of scheduling, Peninsula travels to Campbell River for Game 1 on Friday night at 7:30 before returning home for Game 2 on Saturday at 2 p.m.
The VIJHL champion will advance to the 2017 Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial championship tournament, hosted by the Creston Valley Thundercats from April 6 to 9.