The Campbell River Storm scored the opening goal of the game for the third-straight outing and turned it into a tight 2-1 victory over the Victoria Cougars in Game 3 of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League championship final on Thursday at Archie Browning Sports Centre.
It was the first road win for either team as the Storm take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with Game 4 tonight at 7:30 back at Rod Brind鈥橝mour Arena in Campbell River. Game 5 goes Sunday at 3:30 p.m. back in Esquimalt.
The Storm continues to win without general manager and head coach Lee Stone behind the bench. He was suspended for Game 1, then broke a league rule by having contact with his team within an hour of the conclusion of that loss and earned another three-game penalty. He鈥檒l be back for Game 5.
Goalie Riley Welyk stopped 17 shots in yet another one-goal outing. That鈥檚 now six championship series games decided by just one tally dating back to last year鈥檚 final, which the Storm won in four.
It was a good, fast-paced, physical playoff game where not a lot of chances were surrendered. Shots were just 21-18 for the visitors and the first goal was big.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 huge. You start with that momentum and that makes all the difference in the world. You make them claw back and that pulls them out of their element,鈥� said Stone, who watched from the press box.
鈥淎ll season, they have been a team in the lead. Whether it鈥檚 in a game or in the standings, they鈥檙e a team not used to battling from behind 鈥� and we want that the entire series,鈥� he added.
The Cougars dictated play early and Ryan Vorster鈥檚 shot deflected just wide of the Storm net five minutes in. Alex Rosolowsky then ripped a wrister wide for the visitors about a minute later.
Victoria netminder Anthony Ciurro then made a solid glove save off Colin Blake as the Storm gained momentum.
Shortly afterward Kobe Oishi tapped in the opening goal on a goalmouth-feed from Josh Coblenz. Reece Costain then picked up a turnover behind the Cougars鈥� net and wrapped it in behind starting goalie Anthony Ciurro at 15:29 to make it 2-0 Campbell River.
A netminding change was immediately made, with Greg Maggio coming in. Victoria responded with an unassisted goal from John Kretzschmar at 16:13 and the hosts went to the dressing room down 2-1, despite allowing just three shots.
鈥淥bviously, we gave up two opportunities early in the game that you can鈥檛 do this time of the year 鈥� and they ended up in the back of the net,鈥� said Cougars鈥� head coach Mark Van Helvoirt.
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