Michetti the whole story in stunning Braves 3-2 win

November 17, 2019
Saanich, British Columbia

It was no surprise at all when the Braves blasted out the Player of the Game for the Saanich Club when time had expired at the George Pearkes Arena on a balmy Sunday afternoon.  The visiting Peninsula Panthers had managed to put a total of 57 pucks on the Braves net over the course of 60 minutes, but lanky netminder Robert Michetti held as firm as could be and he willed his Club over the finish line picking up a 3-2 win for his efforts.

Saanich Braves quickly opened up a 2-0 lead only six minutes into the opening frame on goals by Cianan Briscoe and John Ross, but the Panthers responded with a pair of their own before 20 minutes were in the books.  Tanner Wort scored on the power play at the 13:27 mark on helpers from Denver Maloney and Riley Braun and then five minutes later, Braun was able to solve Michetti with Thomas Spink and Josh Lingard getting in the tally.

The Panthers carried the play for the full sixty minutes but it was Braves' Graeme Getty who would score the only marker of middle frame when he drifted a shot past Panthers' netminder Chris Combiadakis at the 15:56 mark.

The final period saw the Panthers put on some frantic pressure and with just a couple ticks over four minutes remaining, it appeared as though Wort had rang one off the post and into the back of the Braves' net.  The puck then softly came out near the front of the cage and a scramble ensued.  The would-be tying marker was waved off and Michetti would hold the fort the rest of the way for the win.

The Panthers outshot the Braves 57 to 28.  Michetti and Braun were selected as the two game stars.  The loss marked the first time the Cats have lost two games in a row after bowing to the Victoria Cougars at home Friday night.

Head Coach Brad Tippett on the game:

"We put in a lot of hard work for no points. We can say we had 57 shots but it’s the 25 attempts that missed the net that concerns me. Yes - their goalie had a busy game - but the guy who was really busy is the guy having to clean the marks off the plexiglass. Our effort and discipline was there- just not the accuracy. We will have a couple practices and a video session before Wednesday.  Maybe seeing it on the screen will get it to sink in."

The Panthers travel to Westshore to battle the Wolves on Wednesday night before returning home on Friday to welcome in the visiting Comox Valley Glacier Kings.  The puck drops at 7:30 pm.


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