Storm sail past Cougars in lengthy VIJHL final

Campbell River advances to Cyclone Taylor Cup

They arrived back home a lot later than usual, but the wait was well worth it for the Campbell River Storm.

Christian Brandt’s unassisted goal at 4:48 of the fourth overtime period of Game 7 of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League final gave the Storm a 4-3 win over the Victoria Cougars at Archie Browning Sports Centre on Sunday evening.

The Cougars, defending league champs, had won Game 6 in Campbell River to force the deciding game, but couldn’t solve Storm netminder Chris Smith for more than three overtime periods. Smith made 47 saves to earn his team a ticket to the Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial championship tournament later this month in Creston.

At the other end of the rink, Cougars goaltender Anthony Ciurro allowed two quick goals in the first period, but was stellar the rest of the way, despite facing 85 shots.

Sheldon Brett and Collin Blake gave the Storm a 2-0 lead before the game was two minutes old, but the Cougars would claw back. A late first-period power-play goal from Dom Kolbeins and another one early in the second by Grayden Hohl drew the Cougars even.

Carter Hikichi for the Storm and Kolbeins traded goals late in the second period to set the stage for the overtime periods.

The Storm now head to the Cyclone Taylor Cup from April 6 to 9 in Creston where they will be joined by the host Creston Valley Thunder Cats, Kootenay International Junior Hockey League champs Beaver Valley Nighthawks and Pacific Junior Hockey League champs Abbotsford Kodiaks.

The Cyclone Taylor Cup champion advances to the 2017 Keyston Cup Western Canadian Junior B championship April 13-16 in Arborg, Man.