Wolves end Cougars’ reign, now hope to survive Storm en route to final

The Victoria Cougars and Campbell River Storm have been the franchises that ate up the Vancouver Island Hockey League in recent seasons.

But the upstart Westshore Wolves have knocked off the Cougars and now have their sights set on the Storm.

Coming off their dramatic 4-3 double-overtime victory in Game 7 on Saturday night at The Q Centre, on a goal by Tomba Huddlestan, the Wolves have advanced to a best-of-seven second-round date with the Storm beginning tonight at Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River.

“It’s going to be another uphill battle but we believe we can give Campbell River as a good a run as anyone else in this league,” said Wolves rookie head coach Tyler Matheson.

“We have the team that can do it. We realize we have to play a good, solid defensive game. The Storm is very balanced in scoring and if you give any of their lines an opportunity to score, they will capitalize.”

The Storm have played the Cougars in the league final the past three seasons. Last year, the Storm were VIJHL champions and went on to lose in the 2017 Cyclone Taylor Cup B.C. championship game to the Kootenaychampion Beaver Valley Nitehawks. Victoria won the league in 2016, and the Storm in 2015, en route to both the Cyclone Taylor Cup B.C. championship and Keystone Cup Western Canadian title.

Now, along come the Wolves, hoping to upset the VIJHL apple cart.

Matheson, only 27, is making an impression in the VIJHL on the bench after a career on the ice in Junior A and major-junior. Matheson played two seasons in the B.C. Hockey League with the Victoria Grizzlies, one with the Cowichan Valley Capitals, and the 2009-10 season in the Western Hockey League with the Kelowna Rockets alongside fellow Juan de Fuca minor hockey grad and current NHL defenceman Tyson Barrie.

Matheson then kicked around the minor pros with the Arizona Sundogs, Williamsport Outlaws, Fayetteville FireAntz and Brampton Beast. That playing experience makes it easier for him to relate to his players.

“I know what they are going through. My ability to relate to the players — their battles and struggles in the game — is my greatest strength as a coach,” said Matheson. “I learned a lot in my playing career and I knew I wanted to teach that and pass that on to young players.”

That part of Matheson’s hockey journey began with one season on a BCHL bench with the Grizzlies as assistant coach to Craig Didmon.

“We stayed composed throughout the series against the Cougars,” said Matheson. “It came down to who wanted it the most.”

Meanwhile, the Storm defeated the Peninsula Panthers in the first round of the playoffs.

The other semifinal series in the VIJHL began Monday night, with the South Division regularseason champion Saanich Braves losing 5-2 to the Buccaneers in Nanaimo.

The Braves defeated the Kerry Park Islanders in the first round while the Bucs topped the Oceanside Generals.