Cougars and Storm play for Island title

Two familiar foes meet again to contest the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League title.

The North Division champion Campbell River Storm and South Division champion Victoria Cougars play in the best-of-seven 2017 VIJHL championship series, beginning tonight at 7 at the Archie Browning Sports Centre in Esquimalt.

The second game for the Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy is Friday night at Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River. The third game is Sunday at Archie Browning and fourth game Tuesday at Campbell River.

It is the third consecutive year the clubs have met in the final. It is a rematch of the 2016 VIJHL final, won by Victoria in six games, and the 2015 VIJHL final, won by the Storm in four games.

The winner will advance to the 2017 Cyclone Taylor Cup B.C. Junior B championship tournament, taking place from April 6 to 9 in Creston.

Campbell River stormed to the 2017 VIJHL championship series after beating the Nanaimo Buccaneers in five games in the semifinals and after sweeping the Peninsula Panthers in four games in the first round.

The Cougars beat the Kerry Park Islanders in five games in the other semifinal series after eliminating the Westshore Wolves in six games in the first round.

The Cougars went 3-1 against the Storm in their four regularseason games.

The teams were tight in the tables. Victoria ended the regular season with 35 wins and 75 points and the Storm with 34 wins and 70 points.

Both teams were also tough at home. Victoria was 19-4-0-1 at Archie Browning and the Storm 19-5-0-0 at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena.