North Division edges out South Division 3-2 in overtime in Prospects Game

On a windy, rainy and blustery Sunday afternoon in Campbell River, fans who ventured to the Rod Brind'Amour Arena were treated to what was perhaps the best VIJHL Prospects Game in recent memory.  The game took 60 minutes of regulation and overtime for the North Division Prospects to edge the South Division Prospects 3-2.

The South Division took control of the game in the first 40 minutes and led going into the 2nd intermission by a 2-0 count.  Saanich Braves' Zack Geurra and Victoria Cougars' Matteo Albinati gave the visitors the lead but a determined North Division squad played the final 20 minutes as if their lives were on the line.  Campbell River Storm's forward Ryan Butler and Jalen Price each notched a goal and when the final buzzer sounded at the end of 60 minutes of regulation, both teams were knotted at 2.

The Overtime 4-on-4 was end to end with scoring chances by both teams.  With a face-off to the left of South Division goaltender, Westshore Wolves' Luke Sheldrake, Campbell River Storm's Dawson Frank won the draw and snapped a shot high over the shoulder of Sheldrake to win the game for the North.  The goal started an on-ice celebration as the North Division roster spilled over the boards and onto the ice.

The tone of the game was set early in the 1st minute when Peninsula Panthers' Shota Yamamoto threw a big check as a North Division forward drifted into the zone.  The hit was a sign of the things to come as both teams laid everything on the line as if it was a Game 7 in the final series.  And the effort was not lost on the large crowd in attendance as both teams were treated to a standing ovation when the game came to an end.

The Panthers had a large contingent of players in the game, making up almost 50% of the South Division roster.  Included in the line-up were Goaltender Chris Akerman, Defenceman Skyler Diamond-Burchuk, Thomas Spink and Shota Yamamoto, and Forwards Carson Cox, Matt Lawrence, Tanner Wort, Riley Braun, Marshall Brown and Josh Lingard.

The Panthers will be back at it on Thursday night when they travel to the Archie Browning Arena to face off against the Victoria Cougars in an important South Division match-up.  And the team will be back in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre next Friday night when they will look to take some of the 'howl' out of the visiting Westshore Wolves.  The puck is set to drop at 7:30 p.m. and a large crowd is expected.