In a Junior Prospects Hockey League matchup that saw plenty of offensive fireworks, the Coquitlam HC skated to a 6-4 victory over the Victoria HA. The game was a tale of two different styles, with Coquitlam building a commanding lead through the first two periods before holding off a furious Victoria comeback attempt in the final frame. The visitors were powered by a spectacular hat-trick from Yujun Lee, who scored three consecutive goals in the second period to give his team a lead they would never relinquish.
The game started with Coquitlam's Braden Balatbat opening the scoring, but Victoria answered back on the power play with Dominic Quast finding the net, assisted by Niko Stamatakis and Austin Joyce. The second period, however, belonged entirely to Coquitlam. Yujun Lee erupted for three goals in a span of just over two minutes, turning a 1-1 tie into a 4-1 lead. Alexander Warren added what would prove to be the game-winning goal later in the period, though Quast netted his second of the game for Victoria to keep the score within reach at 5-2 heading into the third.
Victoria mounted a valiant comeback in the final period, with Sebastian Byram scoring twice to bring the score to 5-4 and put serious pressure on the Coquitlam defense. The game grew increasingly chippy, with six minor penalties called in the third period alone. Just as Victoria was building momentum, Coquitlam's Emerson Papadatos scored a crucial insurance goal with just over three minutes remaining, sealing the 6-4 victory for the visitors. Despite being outshot 40-34, Coquitlam's John Smith was credited with the win in net, while Victoria's goaltending duo of Hunter Villecourt and George Boyle combined for the loss in a game that showcased the offensive firepower of both 14U AAA squads.
14U AAA - HC Edmonton
14U AAA - Surrey Eagles HA
15U AAA - Bow Valley HC
15U AAA - Langley HA
