The VIJHL South Island Division Finals got underway Monday night, with the Peninsula Panthers taking a 1-0 series lead with a 4-2 victory.
The Victoria Cougars had just come off a hard earned 7 game series win over the Saanich Braves and were playing without one of the leagues best wingers, Josh Wyatt. Taking Wyatt's place in the lineup was Trevor McNeil, who was dangerous all night and led the way with two goals for Victoria. McNeil had missed the previous several weeks with an injury.
The game started with a flurry of back and forth activity. Both teams came out hitting and it appears this will be a tightchecking and fast paced series. Mike Scarborough scored on a point shot at 16:15 of the first period with Cougars dman Kai Ohs in the penalty box for interference. This goal seemed to ignite the Panthers as they seemed to carry the play for the next several minutes.
Several undisciplined Panthers' penalties led to a series of power plays in which the always-dangerous Cougars came close on several opportunities. It was Peninsula's Evan Campbell however, who found the back of the net on a fantastic individual effort, rushing the puck up ice and picking the corner on the Cougars' Max Pelzner.
With just under three minutes to go in the first period, it was Panther winger, Michael Colantone converting some excellent work by Josh Bloomenthal and Erik Larsen to put the Panthers up 3-0.
The third period saw some exciting action at both ends of the rink. The Cougars again pushed hard to cut into the lead with Trevor McNeil scoring from the slot from an excellent behind the net pass from Jimmy Carter. With the lead now at 3-2 the Panthers did a good job at eliminating opportunities and finally, Evan Campbell restored the two goal lead with Mike Scarborough assisting.
The VIJHL North Division Final begins tonight with the Kerry Park Islanders hosting the Comox Valley Glacier Kings.
The VIJHL South Division Schedule is as follows:
Game 2 @ Victoria (Archie Browning Arena), Thursday, March 11, 2010 @ 7:30 pm
Game 3 @ Peninsula (Panorama Rec Centre), Friday, March 12, 2010 @ 7:30 pm
Game 4 @ Victoria (Archie Browning Arena), Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 7:30 pm
Game 5 @ Peninsula (if needed), Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 7:30 pm
Game 6 @ Victoria (if needed), Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 7:30 pm
Game 7 @ Peninsula (if needed), Friday, March 19, 2010 @ 7:30 pm
