It was a typical rough meeting between the Saanich Braves and the Peninsula Panthers Saturday night at the Panorama Recreation Center. The Braves took an early first period lead on goals by Ryan Komori and Dylan Lawrence, putting them up 2-1. The Panthers found their stride midway through the second period as Gregory Simpson scored two power play goals, giving the Panthers a 3-2 lead heading into the third. David Courtney scored just four minutes into the third period and Justin Isaac extended the Panther to 5-2, scoring just his second goal of the season. Gregory Simpson fought hard in front of the Brave net and was rewarded with his hat trick goal, sliding the puck past demoralized Brave goaltender, Eric Brabander.

The Panthers entered the game coming off a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory Friday night against the Campbell River Storm. In a game where they fired an incredible 51 shots on Campbell River goaltender Braeden Johnson, the Panthers squandered a 3-0 lead to a determined Campbell River team who managed to claw their way back, sending the game to overtime. Panthers’ forward James Kellington, in just his fifth game of the season, scored with 54 seconds left, winning the game for the Panthers.

Rainy conditions saw the Panthers’ return trip delayed, arriving home at 3:30 a.m. The late night didn’t stop Panthers forward Daniel Bell from opening the scoring Saturday night, putting the Panthers up 1-0 just a minute into the game. Unfortunately, Bell’s goal seemed to inspire the Braves more than the Panthers as Komori and Lawrence responded with two unanswered goals giving the Braves a 2-1 lead by the end of first period.

“In the first we had defensive breakdowns,” said Panther goaltender Scott Ismond. “On their first goal Komori was left untouched in the slot and took a big slap shot and on their second the puck was bouncing everywhere and Lawrence caught me off guard.”

Panther defensemen Brian Cross took an ill-advised cross checking penalty, sending the Braves to the power play heading into the second.

The Braves could not capitalize on the power play, which cost them dearly as the momentum began to swing back in the Panthers’ favour. Things went from bad to worse when 18-year-old defencemen Ryan Smith high-sticked Panther forward Stu Hepburn. Play was whistled down with Hepburn challenging Smith behind the Braves net, punching him repeatedly in the face. Smith wanted no part of it, but Hepburn kept at him, eventually throwing him to the ice, at which point Smith lost control and hit Hepburn with his stick, this time in the side of the head, sending Hepburn over the edge. Smith skated toward his bench, but Hepburn cut him off, dropped his gloves and engaged Smith in what looked to be Smith’s first hockey fight. With Smith covering his face and Hepburn punching his visor, the officials recognized the one-sided nature of the fight and jumped in to stop it. Smith was assessed minor penalties for roughing and high sticking, as well as a five-minute major for fighting, and a game misconduct. Hepburn was assessed two roughing minors, an instigator penalty, a five minute fighting major and a game misconduct.

“Hepburn is a key player … he provides the strength on our team and with him gone it forced the rest of the guys to step up,” said Cross.

The Panthers built on Hepburn’s aggressive play, taking it to the Braves with Bell scoring two power play goals before the end of the second period putting the Panthers up 3-2.

Four minutes into the third, forward David Courtney extended the Panther lead to 4-2 as he slid the puck past fallen Braves goaltender Brabander.

With both teams realizing that the game was essentially over, the game took an ugly and dangerous turn. Skating hard along the neutral zone boards boards, Panther forward Bell took a vicious hit from behind from 20-year-old forward Eldon Chernowsky. With Bell lying prone on the ice, Panther defensemen Brian Cross grabbed the back of Chernowsky’s helmet as he curled into a ball, covering his face. Cross landed blow after blow as Chernowsky waited for the referees to break up the fight.

Chernowsky was assessed a minor for hooking, a five-minute major for checking from behind and a game misconduct, while Cross received five minutes for fighting and a game misconduct.

“In it a situation like that you gotta call what’s there, you want to make it fair for both teams,” said referee Jordin Davis.

With gloves and sticks littering the ice, both teams prepared for what could have been an ugly end to a hard fought hockey game. Luckily both coaches showed the maturity expected of them keeping their teams under control. The Panthers managed to slip two more goals past Brabander with a happy Simpson scoring his hat trick goal with just three minutes to play.

Panther goalie Ismond said, “Hepburn’s fight was when the momentum started to shift — he stood up not only for himself but for the team, getting the energy going in the rink. There were very few people here tonight so it was harder for the team to get into it. In the first period Saanich gave us a lesson but in the second and third we learned what it is like to play as a team. We played for the symbol on the front of the jersey, and that’s what a first place team does.”

Next up for the Panthers is a rare Monday-night match up versus the win-less Westshore Stingers as they look to extend their two-point lead over the Victoria Cougars for first place in the league.

sports@peninsulanewsreview.com