Over the last month, the Courtenay Legion Peewee Tier II Chiefs battled hard to earn a spot in the Island championship. After placing second to Nanaimo in the round-robin series for the North Island, they advanced to a crossover elimination game against the Victoria Racquet Club Kings. A win over the Kings sent the boys to the best-of-three final against No. 1 ranked Nanaimo.
The first game of the series was held in Nanaimo on Friday night. The Chiefs were ready to take on the Clippers and steal a win on the road but Nanaimo had other plans. D-men Kayden Dion and Brett Woods were in tough but didn鈥檛 falter. Goalie Quinn Fogtmann, just back from a sunny vacation, made some key saves but couldn鈥檛 shut down the Nanaimo team who eventually won the game 6-3.
The Chiefs opened the scoring with a goal by Bryce Stromquist off a feed from Austin Pigeon. A great passing play by veteran Ben Besplug and rookie Brayden Baker resulted in a goal by Kane O鈥橞rian who added another goal unassisted in the second period. Key plays by defencemen Dawson Gillespie and Nolan Baker challenged the Clippers' offence while hard skating by rookie forwards Trevor Pruden, Braden Calis and Nathan Doleman challenged their defence.
Game two Saturday at the Comox Vlley Sports Centre got off to a late start as the young Chiefs watched the Midget B Chiefs go into double overtime against Nanaimo for their championship banner.
Once the Courtenay Legion Chiefs hit the ice, the crowd was pumped up from the earlier excitement. The Chiefs had some early chances thanks to the effort of forward James Garrett and defenceman Partick Smalley. However Nanaimo scored a buzzer-beater near the end of the first period.
The Chiefs answered back in the first few minutes of the second with a shot from the point by Adam McKillican, assisted by Stromquist. And that鈥檚 how the score remained for four and a half more periods of hockey as the Clippers and Chiefs went to triple OT to decide the game.
With standing room only as fans waited for the delayed start of the Glacier Kings' game, Nanaimo eventually managed to sneak one past goaltender Fogtmann who faced over 60 shots in the game.
"The Courtenay Legion Peewee Tier II Chiefs thank coaches Don Behan and Keith Doleman, manager Jaime Baker, all the parents and their sponsor for their support this season," a team spokesperson said.
