Captain Robbie Heavenor had his first two-goal game, including the game-winner, as the North Island Eagles midget rep hockey team kept its playoff hopes alive with a 5-3 win at Kerry Park Saturday.
Unfortunately for the midgets, those hopes were dashed the following day when Kerry Park rebounded for a 7-4 victory at Juan de Fuca. That left all three teams in the round-robin, Vancouver Island North tourney with 1-1 records. The Eagles finished third in a goal-differential tiebreaker, while Juan de Fuca and Kerry Park earned the two berths into the Vancouver Island Hockey League Tier 3 semifinals.
They will meet with Sooke and Victoria, the top two teams from the South playoff, in the semifinals this weekend.
All three North division playoff games were won by the visiting team.
Malcolm Richards and Chad Bell scored the first two goals for the midgets Saturday before Heavenor, normally a stay-at-home defenseman, rifled home back-to-back scores. Robert Cahill added an empty-net score to provide the final margin.
Stevyn Ruel claimed the win in goal for the midgets, who faced a must-win situation after dropping their playoff opener 10-3 to Juan de Fuca one week earlier.
Eric Kennelly, Mitchell Walker, Bell and Cahill each added assists in Saturday’s win.
Peewees ousted
The Eagles peewee squad bowed out of the playoff Saturday, but showed solid improvement despite an 11-0 loss at Powell River.
The previous week, the peewees dropped a 20-1 decision to Kerry Park.
The team will continue to practice in preparation for a Spring Break tournament in Sooke.
