Story By Tom Arlidge:
The game started off just the way Saanich was wanting it to. On the opening faceoff the Predators took the puck behind the Cougars net and when Cougars starter Fraser Wyatt looked to his right for the puck Justin Scott pulled the puck out on the opposite side and slid it in the net for his first goal of the season. The goal was scored at :16 and assists were to Kyle Erickson and Kieran Smith. The Cougars responded at 12:06 with a Predators penalty just ending Jacob Pang took a feed from Kieran Strange and beat Charles Curiston to tie the game. At 15:29 just into a pp it was Predators Captain Kyle Brown who beat Wyatt to take the lead back. Assists to Dayton Arneson and Thomas Jenkins. Shots at the end of the first were 19-12 in favour of the Cougars.
The only scoring in the second was with :56 left on the clock and Strange was fore checking in the high slot. The Predator defender misplayed the puck and Kieran quickly snapped it into the back of the net to tie the game. Shots were 13-11 in favour of Saanich.
Late in the third with possession in the Predators zone Cougars Captain Dylan Jessa passed the puck from the point to Ethan Roworth in the right faceoff circle and he wristed a shot through traffic that found the back of the net for the first Cougar lead in the game. Goal was at 13:45 and the second assist went to Jake Watson. Near the end of the game with Roworth in the penalty box and the Saanich goalie pulled Jackson Estey took the puck deep into the Predators end and ripped a shot into the empty net from a tight angle. The goal was scored at 19:18 and that was Estey’s third short handed goal of the season.
Final shots were 42-39 in Saanich’s favour.
Players of the game were Curiston for Saanich and Kieran Strange for the Cougars.
The Cougars hit the bus Saturday for a tilt with the red hot Oceanside Generals up in Parksville. Game time is 7pm. Tune into HockeyTV to hear Kyle Ireland call the game.
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