Buccaneers season over, Braves win game 7 to advance to VIJHL final
NANAIMO — It was heartbreak for the Buccaneers at the Pirate Ship.
The Saanich Braves beat Nanaimo 5-2 to win the seventh and decisive game of the VIJHL semifinal in front of a franchise record 610 fans at the Nanaimo Ice Centre Sunday night.
A slow start did the Bucs in, as the Braves stunned the hometown crowd with a 3-0 lead after the first period, on goals by Jake Wilhelm, Zach Guerra and Dale McCabe.
Nanaimo’s Booker Chacalias and Clayton Peace trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the second period, setting the stage for an intense third frame. Nanaimo dialed up the heat on Braves goaltender Riley Mathieson, but Saanich withstood the pressure and scored two empty-netters to seal the series.