All square: Braves strike early, fend off Storm to draw even in VIJHL final

SAANICH 3 CAMPBELL RIVER 2 (Series tied 2-2)

The Storm clouds dispersed over Pearkes Arena on Monday night.

The Saanich Braves, making their first appearance in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League final in more than two decades, tied the best-of-seven series 2-2 with a 3-2 victory over the Campbell River Storm in Game 4.

“This is huge for our club,” said Saanich star forward Michael Sproule, who led the Braves with two goals.

“When we use our team speed, and play our systems, there isn’t a team that can touch us.”

Saanich hasn’t won the VIJHL championship, or been in the final, since 1996 when Bill Clinton was in the White House and Jean Chrétien in 24 Sussex. The Storm, the 2015 and 2017 champion, is making its fourth-consecutive trip to the VIJHL final under GM and head coach Lee Stone, having met the Victoria Cougars the past three seasons.

“[Former Braves coach/GM and now director of hockey operations] Brad Cook has done a lot over the last 10 years to turn around the culture of this club,” said Braves head coach Sam Waterfield, who used to play for Cook, before a Junior A playing career and two national college championships with NAIT.

The Storm trailed 3-0 heading into the third period Monday. They finally got to Saaanich goaltender Riley Mathieson, winner of the Jamie Benn Award as VIJHL MVP, but Mathieson and the Braves hung tough.

The fifth game is tonight at Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River and sixth game Friday at Pearkes. Game 7, if needed, would be Saturday in Campbell River.

The winner between the Storm and Braves advances to the 2018 Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial championship tournament April 12-15 in Richmond.