In a game defined by a staggering parade to the penalty box, the 17U AAA Island HC used a dominant third period to secure a 5-2 win over the 17U AAA Victoria HA. The contest was a tale of two games: a frantic, penalty-filled opening forty minutes followed by a decisive final frame where Island HC took control. The visitors from Victoria came out firing, outshooting Island HC 40-27 through two periods, but could not solve the Island HC defense and goaltending enough to build a lead. Instead, it was Island HC who struck first, with Michel Rechon-Reguet opening the scoring early in the first period, followed by a marker from Casey Bukta to give the home side a 2-0 lead after one.
The second period descended into chaos, featuring a staggering nine minor penalties, a major, and a game misconduct. Victoria HA capitalized on the power play opportunities to claw back into the game. Blake Sanderson got the visitors on the board, and later, Jacob Heinonen tied the game at 2-2 with a power-play goal, assisted by Sanderson and Reggie Lott. The period was marred by a major penalty and game misconduct to Island HC's Maksim Kostadinov, putting his team under significant pressure. However, despite being outshot 22-15 in the period, Island HC's penalty kill and goaltender held firm to keep the game tied heading into the third.
With the game up for grabs, Island HC flipped the script entirely in the third period. They tightened up defensively, limiting Victoria HA to a mere six shots, while unleashing 18 of their own. The hero of the final frame was Mateo Lobos-Worger, who broke the deadlock with the game-winning goal just under three minutes into the period, assisted by Gavin Robertshaw. Cullin Camarta then provided crucial insurance with a power-play goal, and Lobos-Worger iced the victory with his second of the period, again set up by Robertshaw, to complete a three-point night. Despite being heavily outshot for much of the game, Island HC’s resilience through a storm of penalties and a clinical third-period performance proved to be the difference.
14U AAA - HC Edmonton
14U AAA - Surrey Eagles HA
15U AAA - Bow Valley HC
15U AAA - Langley HA
