Perhaps it seemed a little too easy for the Victoria Cougars on Sunday.
After jumping to a 3-0 lead and outshooting the Kerry Park Islanders 19-5 in the first period, the Cougars barely hung on to a 4-3 win in Game 1 of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League semifinals.
Click here for a complete schedule of the VIJHL semifinals.
B次元官网网址淲e took the foot off the gas pedal for the last 40 minutes,B次元官网网址� said coach Mark Van Helvoirt.
B次元官网网址淲e werenB次元官网网址檛 good enough, especially in the last two minutes. We canB次元官网网址檛 lack aggressiveness. But it was a win, which is a good start after a long break."
It was in those final minutes that the Islanders blitzed the Cougars, and forward Jake Newman scored to make it 4-3 with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker. Just minutes before, the IslandersB次元官网网址� Kyle Peterson nearly scored when he tipped a centering pass that went off the post behind Cougars goalie Bryce Halverson.
The game also featured a one-sided penalty ratio, as the Islanders took 54 penalty minutes to the CougarsB次元官网网址� 10.
"We had five (minor) penalties to their (17)," Van Helvoirt said. "We're not here to hurt people, we're here to play hockey. They're also a skilled team playing for their playoff lives."
Still, being shorthanded wasnB次元官网网址檛 enough to deter the Islanders, who feature some of the VIJHLB次元官网网址檚 most skilled forwards including the Peterson brothers, Cole and Kyle. Though the Petersons didnB次元官网网址檛 tally any points, the former Peninsula Panthers are omnipresent whenever they skate against the Cougars.
The brothers had a combined 27 points in 13 games during the PanthersB次元官网网址� run to the VIJHL championship last year, helping to defeat the Cougars in a seven-game final.
"This year's Cougars team is faster but isn't as physical as last year's," Cole said. "Five-on-five we're better, we just have to stay disciplined. We were getting too frustrated.
B次元官网网址淲e were down 3-0 and all it took was hard work to get back in it.B次元官网网址�
Cole is the elder brother of the two, and is playing his final year of eligibilty, while Kyle has two more years remaining. By request, the brothers , with Trevor Yee going the other way.
