Since a rough and tumble blowup with the Oceanside Generals on Nov. 24 the Saanich Braves (19-14-2) have gone 9-1-2 in its last 11 games.

The latest win, the BravesB次元官网网址� fourth in a row, was a 6-1 blowout of the Westshore Wolves (16-17-1) in the Q Centre on Wednesday. Kyle Mace led the team with a hat trick, with goals from Gavin Grewal, Michael Sproule and Elliot MacIsaac.

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On Friday the Braves pit their four-game win streak against the Campbell River Storm, who carry a four-game win streak of their own, 7:30 p.m. in Campbell RiverB次元官网网址檚 BrindB次元官网网址橝mour arena.

Prior to the BravesB次元官网网址� recent run the team had 10 wins in 23 games and was slowly sinking to the bottom of the South division.

So what happened?

Maybe the team bonded over that Nov. 24 game, a 7-3 loss to the Generals (14-17-1) that ended with 94 penalty minutes to the Braves (178 PIMs total) and a total of six ejections and six misconducts (thatB次元官网网址檚 what happens when you fight in Junior B now). The Braves also gave up two shorthanded goals in that game.

(All stats in the story are as of Jan. 11. Inset photo of Gavin Grewal.)

Or, maybe it was the addition of a couple former faces. To start December, the Braves re-acquired Victoria boys Ryan Strange and Eliott MacIsaac. Strange is a 17-year-old forward who affiliated with the Braves for five games last year but left town to play for the Campbell River Storm this year. MacIsaac is a 19-year-old defenceman who left the Braves in 2015 and played last season for the Truro Bearcats, winners of the Maritime Junior Hockey League. He debuted in his return with a goal in the BravesB次元官网网址� 4-3 overtime loss to the Victoria Cougars on Dec. 7 and now has nine points in 10 games.

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Either way, itB次元官网网址檚 safe to say the Nov. 24 forced the team to take a long look in the mirror. Since then, theyB次元官网网址檝e only lost once in regulation, 3-2 to the Kerry Park Islanders (the Braves then swept the Islanders in home-and-home date Jan. 5 and 6).

Whatever it is, something spurred the Braves, who are loving life at the rink and are confident they can win against any team in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.

B次元官网网址淚 think the big part of this run is that by December our rookies start figuring themselves out and weB次元官网网址檝e figured out how to play as a team,B次元官网网址� said coach Sam Waterfield. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 an urgency and accountability from the start of every game, and instead of me holding the players accountable theyB次元官网网址檙e holding themselves and each other accountable.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淵ou can only use B次元官网网址榳eB次元官网网址檙e youngB次元官网网址� as an excuse for so long,B次元官网网址� said Gavin Grewal, third in team scoring with 16 goals and 13 assists.

Right now the team is having fun, and the worries are little, Grewal added.

B次元官网网址淚n the dressing dressing room thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of character right now. If someoneB次元官网网址檚 not having the best night, another guy will step up and take that [role] on. Night to night right now, [we go into games with] everyone feeling comfortable, as long as we work hard we will keep it going,B次元官网网址�

Overall, the stat line is well balanced for the Braves. Zach Guerra, 17, remains the standout rookie with 16 goals, one of four Braves with 15 or more. Guerra, a Grade 12 student at Spectrum, has played one game as a Nanaimo Clippers affiliate and was impressive scoring a breakaway in the recent VIJHL prospects game.

There are three more Braves between Guerra (24 points) and Dale McCabeB次元官网网址檚 team-leading 32 points.

B次元官网网址淲e trust in our teammates, all of our young guys are stepping into bigger roles,B次元官网网址� Guerra said.

One stat that has emerged since November is Riley MathiesonB次元官网网址檚 save percentage. On Wednesday Mathieson made another 34 saves on 35 shots, bumping his save percentage to .928, second in the league. ItB次元官网网址檚 an impressive number considering MathiesonB次元官网网址檚 faced the most shots in the league, 1,016 which is 793 more shots than the leader, Liam Murphy of the Campbell River Storm (26-6-2).

B次元官网网址淩ileyB次元官网网址檚 been unreal for us, heB次元官网网址檚 been the backbone of the team, kept us in a lot of games,B次元官网网址� Guerra said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e picked up our defensive game to help him, getting in shooting lanes.B次元官网网址�