18-year-olds #27 Braedan Pearce, #16 Josh Poland and #18 Kai Turner turned in an outstanding game as a trio but they could not hit paydirt. The line and the rest of their teammates were edged by the Saanich Braves when the visitors scored the game's lone marker with less than five minutes to play. (Gordon Lee Photo)
In a huge four-point game the Saanich Braves romped into the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre and left with two points in their pocket, winning in dramatic fashion 1-0.
The Peninsula Panthers will not have to wait long to get back into action after dropping a dramatic 1-0 game to the visiting Saanich Braves. The Cats will have to lick their wounds quickly after the New Year's Day loss and are right back at it tomorrow night at 7:30 pm when the Club host the South Division Kerry Park Islanders.
Panthers goaltender Alex Olson and Braves 'tender Brandon Ward were the story of the game with Ward being the busier on the night. The visitors stopper blocked all 32 shots directed at him while Olson was almost perfect stopping 19 of 20 Saanich attempts. But when Braves Hunter Atchison managed to squeeze a puck through Olson at the 14:47, it proved to be all that the Braves would need. The Panthers pulled Olson with just over one minute to play however, they could not solve Ward. It was the second time this season that the Braves have bested the Panthers 1-0.
The two Clubs each had two minor penalties in the cleanly-played affair and a substantial crowd on hand seemed to enjoy every minute of the game. With the win the Braves pulled eight points ahead of the Panthers in what clearly was a big four-point game.
Perhaps the Panthers best chances came in the 2nd period when 17-year-old Mitchell Newman was left all alone in front of Ward, twice. But Newman fired wide both times on a couple blasts that appeared to have beaten Ward.
The Panthers game on Friday evening will see the puck drop at the usual 7:30 pm time, a game which the Club is looking at as almost a must win.
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