Slow start for junior Braves
Offence is at a premium for the Saanich Braves, as the club has slid to an 0-4 record in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
The Braves are coming off a busy week, in which they played three games in three nights, a 5-4 overtime loss to the Westshore Wolves on Wednesday (Sept. 10), a 5-0 loss to the Victoria Cougars on Thursday and a 6-2 home loss to the Wolves on Friday.
The overtime loss earned the Braves its first point in the standings. Mackenzie Valentine, Kyle Smeding, Scott Henderson and Evan Horvath put the Braves up 4-1 in that game before the Wolves responded with three third-period goals to tie it up. Cory Hatcher scored for the Wolves in overtime.
The Braves will play the final three games of September over a stretch 16 days, starting with a game Friday, Sept. 19 against the Kerry Park Islanders.
Puck drop is 6:30 p.m. at Pearkes arena.
Lexi gets her goal as Vikes sweep Dinos
The UVic Vikes scored six goals in their first win of the Canada West women’s field hockey season, 6-0 over the Calgary Dinos on Sunday.
But the Vikes scraped by with only one goal on Sunday, as they escaped Calgary with a 1-0 win and a 2-0 record to date.
Sunday’s winner came from defender Alexis Veljacic. It’s Veljacic’s first goal as a Vike, and it comes in her fifth and final season.
“We scored on early on a penatly corner by Lexi and it was nice to see her score her first goal,” said Vikes head coach Lynne Beecroft. “It fits our theme of not relying on any one person to score goals. We weren’t able to get many past (Calgary’s) goalkeeper today and we definitely have some work to do on penalty corners.”
The Vikes visit the UBC Thunderbirds this weekend for two matches, Saturday and Sunday.
reporter@saanichnews.com