The Junior B Saanich Braves rectified a slow start with 15 goals in two games over the weekend.
On Friday the Braves scored four times on the power play for a hard-earned win over crosstown rivals the Victoria Cougars (3-3). Saanich followed it up on Saturday with a 10-3 drubbing of the Comox Valley Glacier Kings, in Courtenay.
It brings the BravesB次元官网网址� record to 3-3 as they ready to visit the Nanaimo Buccaneers (5-1) Thursday night, then host the Westshore Wolves (3-2) on Friday, 6:30 p.m. at Pearkes arena.
B次元官网网址淸Against the Cougars] the guys played a solid 60 minutes and didnB次元官网网址檛 have that 10-minute breakdown that weB次元官网网址檇 been having,B次元官网网址� said Braves coach Sam Waterfield. B次元官网网址淭here was a couple chunks where we were in a lull but it didnB次元官网网址檛 cost us and we were able to put the puck in the net.B次元官网网址�
On Saturday, the Braves took advantage of a B次元官网网址渇ragile situationB次元官网网址� where the transitioning Glacier Kings took to the ice with a new coach.
B次元官网网址淐omox had an odd weekend with a new coach on Saturday,B次元官网网址� Waterfield said. B次元官网网址淭he guys came out and started the game hard, capitalized on the chances. It was nice to see our scoring finally come out this weekend.B次元官网网址�
Dale McCabe led the Braves in scoring Friday with two goals and an assist, then picked up four assists on Saturday, jumping to the league lead in scoring with 11 points in six games.
This yearB次元官网网址檚 Braves are much younger than the group that finished in second place in the VIJHL South division last season, including a new coach and a lot of players born in 2000.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e a young team, theyB次元官网网址檙e coming together and itB次元官网网址檚 been a fun start,B次元官网网址� Waterfield said. B次元官网网址淎t this level if you make a mistake it ends up in the back of the net and itB次元官网网址檚 going to cost you games, [and] it has early on this year and thatB次元官网网址檚 something we need to work on.B次元官网网址�
The Braves roster is mostly set but Waterfield did make a trade last week, acquiring 20-year-old Trevor Owens from the Peninsula Panthers for goalie Bryce Schiebel.
Owens scored in FridayB次元官网网址檚 win and is a proven scorer in the VIJHL with 27 points in 23 games last year and 80 points in 102 games overall.
Schiebel was released from the Junior A Yorkton Terriers last week and with Riley Mathieson already committed to the Braves this year. The move gives Schiebel the chance to be a starter, Waterfield said.
B次元官网网址淸Schiebel] was an asset for us, and he deserves a chance to be the go-to guy,B次元官网网址� Waterfield said.
The BravesB次元官网网址� single win in their first four games of the season came against the Oceanside Generals on Sept. 15. In that game the Braves took a 4-0 lead in the first period and hung on to win 5-4.
B次元官网网址淚t could have started better,B次元官网网址� said defenceman Jake Wilhelm, an 18-year-old who played in the BCHL last year. B次元官网网址淸The first four] games have been one goal differences. It would have been nice to be on the winning side of those games, but I think weB次元官网网址檝e proved that we can be a top team in this league.B次元官网网址�
The former South Island Royals major midget player is locally produced and returned home after he declined a summer trade from the
