A stellar team effort by the Saanich Midget Tier 1 Braves forced a Game 3 Saturday in Comox to crown the Island champions.
The Braves came out flat for last Saturday’s Game 1, dropping a 3-0 loss despite outshooting the Comox Tier 1 Chiefs 26-18.
Faced with possible elimination on home ice, the local team of 15 to 17-year-olds rebounded to shut out the Chiefs 7-0 Sunday.
The Braves spread the scoring around, with six different players finding the back of the net.
Saanich’s Hayden Visscher opened the scoring early Sunday, getting the puck past Comox goalie Shane Lapp just 90 seconds into play.
First-year player Blake Bentham notched a pair for the Braves, with Oak Bay’s Jarod Timmins, and Saanich players Zach Guerra, Spencer Golden and Jarrod Lucoe rounding out the scoring.
Goalie Cam St. Pierre recorded the shutout.
The Braves, led by coach Ian Birnie, look to clinch the Island title in Saturday’s deciding Game 3. The winner earns a berth at the provincial championships in Prince George March 20 to 23.