Jr. B HOCKEY: Braves set to host league best Kerry Park
Goalie Tanner McGaw stops No. 8, Cole Thomson of the Kerry Park Islanders in the teams' last meeting, a 5-3 Kerry Park win.
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Updated: October 22, 2009 10:33 AM
A pass deflected off a goalie’s skate. A trickler through the legs. A twice-deflected point shot. These are the breaks the Saanich Braves aren’t getting, the difference between third place and first in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s south division.
Despite a few close losses, the Braves have a record of 8-5-2 -- three points back of the Victoria Cougars’ south division lead as of Thursday.
The Braves will need to be on top of their game when they host the VIJHL’s only remaining undefeated team, the 12-0 Kerry Park Islanders, 6:30 p.m. tonight (Oct. 23) at Pearkes arena.
“It’s a great start to the season, one of the best in years,” said Braves captain Ryan Komori. “We’ve been doing a lot better but we need to stay out of the penalty box, and score on a lot more of our chances.”
The 20-year-old Fort Nelson native moved here four years ago to join the Braves’ lineup. He’s part of a core of Jr. B veterans -- Matt Maycock, Mark Stinson as well as Ian Ellenberger, Brandon Francisco, Ryan Smith and Trevor Yee -- who are ushering in a wave of talented younger players like Brandon Nicholson, Tyler Jones, Wade Murphy and goalie Tanner McGaw.
But the club is still haunted by some tough breaks early in the season: two overtime losses to the Cougars, and two one-goal losses to the Peninsula Panthers.
This weekend is a big chance to gain ground on the Cougars and Peninsula Panthers. Some top teams will lose points as the Cougars face Kerry Park and Peninsula
“We have a lot of shots, but not a lot of goals,” Komori said. “I think we can be one of the top competitors (in the VIJHL), we have so many younger guys with skill, we’re working pretty hard right now we just have to bear down and score goals.”
In their only meeting this year, Kerry Park got the better of Saanich, 5-3, back in September. “It got pretty chippy, we’re looking forward to this one. It should be a good one.”
The Braves finish the weekend on the road with a Sunday afternoon game against the Campbell River Storm.
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