Panthers, Storm tied at two games each in VIJHL finals

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart

March 30, 2025

North Saanich, BC – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” wrote Charles Dickens many years ago, and after four wildly entertaining games of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) finals, both the Peninsula Panthers and Campbell River Storm can be forgiven if both halves of that phrase have gone through their minds.

For the Panthers, it was the “best of times” after they jumped into a 2-0 series lead, thanks to a 4-2 win in the series opener last Monday night at Panorama Recreation Centre, which they then followed up with a 4-3 win at Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River last Wednesday night.

For the Storm, their “best of times” began when they responded with a 2-1 double overtime win last Friday at Panorama and then followed that less than 24 hours later with a 5-2 win Saturday night in Campbell River.

That 2-1 double overtime game in front of a packed house at Panorama was perhaps the wildest and most entertaining game played in the VIJHL all season and featured a combined 104 shots on goal (54 for the Panthers and 50 for the Storm). Needless to say, both goaltenders, including the Panther’s Hunter Farrer and the Storm’s Kaeden Serpa were the stars of that game, especially Serpa, who in the third period and most notably in the first overtime, stymied a number of glorious scoring opportunities by the Panthers.

Farrer however matched Serpa blow-for-blow and it took an excellent top-corner shot from the Storm’s Jan-Felix Faupel at 4:34 of the second overtime to give the Storm the win, and more importantly give them momentum that carried through to the win on Saturday to even up the series.

That sets up a pivotal game five on Tuesday night at Panorama Recreation Centre with the winner, in what is now effectively a best-of-three series, having a chance to clinch the VIJHL title on Wednesday night in Campbell River.

The Panthers do hold home ice advantage in the finals, so if a game seven is required, it will go Friday night at Panorama in another 7:30 pm start.

“The ups and downs of this series have been incredible,” said Panther’s Head Coach Tyler Stanton, “but hey, that’s what playoff hockey is all about.  We will bounce back on Tuesday and I hope we can pack the building again so we have a full house to cheer the boys on.”

Admission for Tuesday night’s game (and Friday’s if needed) is $12 ,$9 for youth (ages 13-18), and $2 for kids 12 and under.  Tickets are available at the door.

Peninsula Panthers forward Alex Sajan looks to make a play during game three of the VIJHL championship finals last Friday night against the Campbell River Storm at Panorama Recreation Centre.  The Storm would come away with a 2-1 double overtime victory to get back into the series and then win 5-2 on Saturday night to knot the finals up at two games each.  Game five goes Tuesday night at 7:30 pm at Panorama Recreation Centre (Photo: Christian J. Stewart).