As has frequently been the case this season, the intermediate B Cowichan Valley Thunder overcame a couple of rough starts last weekend to win their last two regular season games in convincing fashion.
"In about 10 of our 14 games, we’ve been losing to start the game," head coach Lorne Winship noted.
A 19-4 victory over the Juan de Fuca Whalers at the Island Savings Centre last Friday and a 14-3 win over the Oceanside Sharks in Parksville the next day gave the Thunder a record of 12 wins and two losses on the season, making them overwhelming favourites as the Island playoffs begin this Friday.
Colin Winship led the way on Friday with six goals and three assists, while James Taylor scored four times and set up one, and Mathieu Jung had a goal and 10 helpers. Brayden Zunti finished with three goals and one assist, Kyle Page had two goals and one assist, Brody Black had one of each, and Travis Clark and Olin Webb scored singles, Clark’s being his first of the season.
Sean O’Neill, Liam Clinging, Dallas McLaughlin and Mitch Page each had one assist.
The point parade on Saturday was just as long: Kyle Page had a hat trick and one assist, James Taylor had a goal and five assists, and Winship had a goal and four assists. O’Neill, McLaughlin, Zunti and Clayton Vickers each scored twice, and Mitch Page had a goal and three helpers. Clinging and Jacob Taylor each had two assists, and Clark and Wyatt Gibb had one helper apiece.
The 12-2 Thunder will face the 6-8 Whalers in a best-of-three battle for the Island banner, beginning this Friday at 7 p.m. at the Island Savings Centre. The Thunder hold a massive statistical edge over the Whalers, but will still need to execute if they want to win and advance to provincials.
"As long as everybody comes out and we’re not overconfident, I think we can out-play them and out-work them," coach Winship said. "If we play our best, we’ll win."
