It鈥檚 been 20 years since the Saanich Braves lifted the Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy as champions of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
The 2015-16 edition of the club is beginning to make some noise as a bona fide contender, leading the South Division of the nine-team Junior B league and hoping to improve on its 10-5 record with a win tonight at The Q Centre against the Westshore Wolves.
Head coach Brad Cook鈥檚 Braves have 20 points, one better than the Victoria Cougars at 8-4-0-3. Campbell River leads the VIJHL at 13-3 for 26 points, ahead of Comox Valley at 11-3-0-1 for 23 points.
Saanich has defeated Campbell River twice this season, 8-7 early on and 3-1 last Friday at Pearkes Arena. The Braves have also split four games with the Cougars, who set the bar every year in the South.
鈥淚 think you always have a chance,鈥� Cook said of taking a run at the title. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about the right mix and timing and some luck. There has to be luck involved in guys you get back, who maybe you weren鈥檛 expecting back.
鈥淚njuries are also huge. Four years ago, we lost eight games all year [and] then we lost Ty Jones in the first game of playoffs.
鈥淪urely, we鈥檙e pointing in that direction and trending that way,鈥� he said of the current campaign. 鈥淲e鈥檙e starting to talk about the bigger picture and lifestyle and commitment and sacrifices a bit more than normal. There are a lot of 1996s here, who are local who have played minor hockey together their whole lives, so it would be special if we could.鈥�
It has been a huge transformation for Saanich, which was 12-29-2-5 and finished with just 31 points last year 鈥� that鈥檚 just 11 better than where they are now and it鈥檚 only October. They were also minus-70 in goal differential last year, scoring 133 and allowing 203. Two seasons ago, the Braves were 17-25-1-5 and were minus-39 in the goal-differential department. Three campaigns ago, the team finished 11-34-1-2, was a whopping minus-115 in goal differential and lost 13 straight to end the season.
The year they lost Jones in the playoffs the Braves finished 30-14-4, but got caught behind an incredible 45-1-2 year the Cougars put together.
Over the last three seasons combined they were 40-88 -4-12, which were lean years, but managed to be a tough out in the playoffs, going six games with Campbell River last year. It was also six against Westshore the year before, which included four straight overtime results to end that epic battle.
鈥淲e鈥檝e done it the hard way, paid our dues and rebuilt the old way,鈥� said Cook. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the fact that 16 players on our roster have come out of my spring camps, which is cool and rare. Development is going on. We鈥檝e been patient in developing the guys.鈥�
Nick Guerra has returned to the team for his last year of junior and he currently leads the league in scoring with 22 goals and nine assists in 15 games, one point up on Derek Smith with 12 goals and 18 assists for Comox Valley.
Guerra, who played his 16- and 17-year-old seasons with Saanich prior to moving on to Nanaimo and Prince George of the BCHL, had two four-goal games in his first five outings for the Braves.
鈥淐oming back down and, having good numbers here as a 17-year-old and now having Junior A experience, I thought I could have some pretty good production 鈥� maybe not this much from the goal end,鈥� Guerra said of his start. 鈥淚 started off hot and recently it鈥檚 come down a bit, but I鈥檓 on a pretty good pace.鈥�
He鈥檚 playing on an all 20-year-old line with Scott Henderson at centre and former Victoria Royal, Brandon Fushimi on left wing. Fushimi has three goals and three assists in his six games.
But the Braves also have balance as Scott McCabe, who some consider to be the most under-rated player in the league, has 22 points to sit tied for fourth in the VIJHL. The 18-year-old is playing on a line with 16-year-olds Ted Brennan (signed by the Kelowna Rockets) and Quinton Waitzner (signed by the Swift Current Broncos).
Evan Horvath also recently returned to the team from Hungary and Mitch Moloney has been a strong addition on the blue line.
鈥淗ere we are sitting with all those pieces and it puts you in a position where maybe it鈥檚 a year where you go after it a little bit,鈥� said Cook. 鈥淲e have to come to the rink every day to get better, though, we can鈥檛 get comfortable.鈥�
