The 鈥淏鈥� in Jr. B stood for 鈥淏room鈥� last week as South Island
teams swept their North Island counterparts in all three Vancouver Island
Junior Hockey League quarter-final playoff series.
The Comox Valley Glacier Kings (third seed) fell four games
to three to the Kerry Park Islanders (sixth seed) as the Isles posted a 4-2 win
the best-of-seven series final March 3 in Courtenay. The Yetis had forced the
seventh and deciding game by handing the Islanders a convincing 6-2 loss March
1 in Kerry Park.
Meanwhile, the Saanich Braves (second seed) had some close
games with the Campbell River Storm (seventh seed) before dispatching them 2-1
in double overtime on March 1 to take that series four games to two. It was the
second double OT game in the series. Elsewhere, the Peninsula Panthers (fifth
seed) pulled off a first-round upset by defeating Oceanside Generals (fourth
seed) 3-2 on March 2 to take that series four games to two.
The second round of the playoffs got underway Sunday
afternoon. The Islanders had little time to enjoy their Saturday night clincher
over the Glacier Kings as they met the league champion Victoria Cougars, who
were coming off a first-round bye. The Braves and Panthers get their
semifinal underway Monday in Saanich.
The name Matt Chester is one the Glacier Kings won鈥檛 forget
for awhile. He was a rock in goal for the Islanders for most of the series,
perhaps saving his best for last in Saturday鈥檚 decider at the Comox Valley
Sports Centre. While the Yetis got to Chester for six goals in the must-win
sixth game in Kerry Park on Thursday, the Isles鈥� netminder was in top form
Saturday, kicking out 48 shots and earning first-star honours as the visitors
opened a 3-0 lead then hung on for the 4-2 win.
Cameron Large took the loss, stopping 24 shots. Michael
Scobie and Keegan Fletcher netted the Comox Valley goals. Cole Peterson potted
a pair for Kerry Park while Kyle Peterson and Joel Gordon tallied one each.
Kerry Park led 1-0 after one period and 2-0 after two while scoring once on the
power play and once short-handed. Garrett Brandsma (1a) and Jackson Garrett
were the second and third starts, respectively.
Winning a must-win game on the road is never easy, but the
Icemen made it look that way March 1 in game six when they hit the Kerry Park
Arena with a vengeance and skated to a 6-2 victory. The visitors outshot their
hosts 44-41 with Large the winner and Chester taking the loss. The Yetis led 2-1
after one period and 5-2 after two.
Mitch Ball scored twice for the Glacier Kings (including the
power-play winner) en route to a three-point performance while Garrett
contributed four assists. Adam Robertson had two goals and two assists
(including the empty net clincher with five seconds left) while Derick
Nicholson also had two points (1g, 1a). Josh Garneau and Cole Peterson replied
for the Islanders.
