Earle Couper
Record Staff
The series that started as a netminder's nightmare ended in a dream finish for the Comox Valley Glacier Kings.
Behind the sterling play of goalie Cam Waddington, the Icemen shut out the Saanich Braves 2-0 Tuesday night to win the deciding game in their best-of-five Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League first-round playoff match up.
The Yetis now meet the Peninsula Panthers in round two, with game one going tonight in Peninsula and game two Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Comox Valley Sports Centre.
The Glacier Kings-Braves series started out as anything but a goaltender's duel as the Yetis prevailed 8-7. But the next four games featured remarkable performances 鈥� win or lose 鈥� between the pipes by both Waddington (and James Davison in game two) and Tanner McGaw.
Tuesday night at the Sports Centre, the Glacier Kings outshot the Braves 39-25, with Waddington earning first-star honours and McGaw named third star.
Mitch Ball's first goal of the post-season in the first period was all the Icemen would need, and second-star Jackson Garrett added the insurance marker early in the third, with his fourth of the playoffs coming on the power play.
"The kids played well overall," said Comox Valley coach Jim MacLean, adding it was good to see Ball, one of the team's best scorers, break out of his recent slump.
Comox Valley's tenacious forechecking smothered Saanich's top line of Connor Stephens, James Kellington and Sheldon Trees, who had combined for 26 points in the first four games. "From an analytical perspective, we deserved to win. We outshot them by 13 or 14 shots, had a good penalty kill and a power-play goal on the three tries we had. Cam played as good a game as he's played all year."
The coach was also pleased with the good, loud crowd that showed up for Tuesday's game. "More of the same would be much appreciated by the players tomorrow night."
MacLean was impressed by his team's performance in their must-win game four Sunday in Saanich. "For us to come through after facing adversity (down 2-1 in a five-game series and playing game four on the road) is quite an accomplishment. We found what it took to get the job done."
MacLean said the team benefitted from the play of Cole Schneider, Garrett Brandsma and Tyson Rennie. "They supplied a lot of energy and allowed us to use all our personnel. Playing four games in five days, being able to use everybody effectively is a big help."
With the Braves behind them, the Glacier Kings now turn their attention to Peninsula, who swept the Campbell River Storm 3-0 in their first-round match up. "They're obviously a very good team, and we're a good team as well. We are looking forward to the challenge they will obviously provide," said MacLean.
After this weekend's action, game three goes March 7 in Peninsula with games four and five, if needed, on March 10 in Courtenay and March 11 in Peninsula.
The teams split six regular season meetings, with both winning twice on home ice. As second-place finishers the Panthers (33-10-0-1) have home-ice advantage over the third-place Glacier Kings (32-11-0-1).
The other second-round series has the league champion Victoria Cougars taking on the fifth-place Oceanside Generals. The Cougars are well-rested, coming off a first-round bye, while the Generals needed overtime in the fifth game of their first-round series Tuesday to dispatch the fourth-place Kerry Park Islanders.
The round-two winners meet to decide the VIJHL playoff championship in a best-of-seven series. The VIJHL champ advances to the Cyclone Taylor Cup (B.C. Jr. B championship) March 31 to April 3, which is being hosted by the Fernie Ghostriders of the KIJHL.
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