By Ian Holmes

Buccaneers 1 win from VIJHL final after beating Braves 7-3

Mar 15, 2018 | 10:47 PM

NANAIMO — The Buccaneers are 1 win away from their first trip to the VIJHL final in franchise  history following a convincing 7-3 victory over the visiting Saanich Braves in game 5 of the VIJHL semifinal Thursday night.

Nanaimo has a 3-2 series lead, and can dispose of the pesky Braves with a victory Friday night in Saanich.

The Bucs exploded out of the gate at the Pirate Ship, building up a 4-0 lead after the first period on goals by affiliate player Josh Zary, Wyatt Selva, Seamus O’Toole and Noah Kelly.

Saanich trailed 5-3 heading into the third period, before Bill Walters and Brandon Roberge notched third period tallies for Nanaimo.

Roberge also scored a second period marker.

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Gavin Grewal, Michael Sproule and Ryan Strange responded with second period goals for the Braves.

Bucs head coach Curtis Toneff said it was a complete team effort.

“I thought we just dialed it down and stayed disciplined in the third and just played like a team that was comfortable with the puck, with the lead, which is important this time of year.”

Derek Krall made 30 saves for the win, while Riley Mathieson made 36 stops.

The Bucs had a clear edge in high-end scoring changes in the fast-paced, physical game.

It was an electric atmosphere as 450 fans crammed into the Pirate Ship.

The Buccaneers were without impact forward Jayden Schubert, who has 3 games left on a suspension picked up toward the end of game #3 of the series. Nanaimo’s Trey Watson also has 1 more game to serve on a suspension from the same game.

The Swordsmen are also missing standout defenseman Dylan Hartl, whose season is finished after breaking his hand in game 2.

Nanaimo won the first two games of the series on home ice, 5-2 and 5-4 in overtime. Saanich then took care of business at George Pearkes Arena, downing Nanaimo 6-1 and 4-3.

The Bucs have had a terrible time on the small playing surface in Saanich this season.

Nanaimo has an 0-4 record in the regular season and playoffs at unfriendly George Pearkes Arena, and have been outscored 22-7.

Toneff said it’s important to close the series out Friday night in Saanich. He said getting rest ahead of of the league final against the Storm would come in handy.

“We played decent last game (in Saanich), we’ve had great periods there, it’s just about putting together a full 60 minutes of hard work,” Toneff said. “It doesn’t have to be perfect, it doesn’t have to be an oil painting, just 60 minutes of hard work.”

Bucs captain Coleman Doney, who was rock-solid on the blueline for Nanaimo Thursday night, said they are confident they can close the series out Friday night

“We just have to keep it as simple as possible, chips out of our zone, chip it in deep, chasing, keeping body contact the whole time and we should be able to get a good win there,” Doney told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Game 7, if necessary, would happen Sunday night at the Nanaimo Ice Centre at 7:30 p.m.

The winner of the Bucs/Braves series will face Campbell River in the VIJHL final starting Tuesday night on the north island.

ian@NanaimoNewsNow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes