A return to home ice sparked the Saanich Braves to an offensive explosion in Game 3 of their Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League semifinal against the Nanaimo Buccaneers Saturday night.
The Braves used four third-period goals to down the Bucs 6-1 in front of the faithful at Pearkes Arena. Nanaimo leads the series two games to one.
Kyle Mace netted a hat-trick for the Braves, while Trevor Owens, Jake Wilhelm and Elliott MacIssac got the other Saanich markers. Mathieu Jallabert had the lone Nanaimo goal.
Riley Mathieson turned asides 26 of the 27 shots he faced in the Saanich net, while the Braves peppered 50 shots at the goaltending tandem of Derek Krall and Blake Wood.
Game 4 goes Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Pearkes Arena.