Peninsula Panthers seize VIJHL crown with Game 7 overtime thriller
Peninsula erased a two-goal deficit and completed the dramatic comeback in overtime
The two best words in sports: Game Seven. That was the stage as the Peninsula Panthers and Campbell River Storm met in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) finals at a jam-packed Panorama Recreation Centre, with 825 in attendance.
The series had been a back-and-forth battle from the drop of the puck on March. 26, with momentum shifts playing a starring role. And Game 7 was no different.
The visiting Storm opened the scoring late in the first period, silencing the home crowd as Kai Williams netted his fourth of the postseason. Dylan Toth and Thomas Curri earned the assists as Campbell River made good on one of just six shots in the frame.
The Storm struck again just a minute into the second period, with Kohen Obuck doubling the lead and giving Campbell River full control. Jacob Kulas notched the lone assist, bringing his series point total to eight.
Despite the scoreboard, Peninsula was relentless in their pushback, firing 29 shots on goal through two periods. But VIJHL Goaltender of the Year Kaeden Serpa looked unbeatable, continuing his MVP-calibre postseason.
That set the stage for a dramatic third period, with the Storm just 20 minutes away from claiming their 11th Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy.
But that would’ve been too easy and far too plain for a series that had delivered so many twists.
Early in the third, Peninsula finally broke through. Brendan Williams tipped home his seventh of the playoffs off an Ethan Lingard wrist shot, cutting the lead in half and reigniting the crowd.
The Panthers threw everything they had at the Storm in the final period, outshooting them 18-4 in the third and 47-16 through regulation – 31 more shots than their opponents.
With under two minutes remaining and their season on the line, Panthers head coach Tyler Stanton pulled goalie Hunter Farrer for the extra attacker.
Then came the magic.
Kenyan Price pounced on a loose puck in front of the net and slid it past Serpa to tie the game at two, sending the building into chaos and forcing overtime for the second time in the series.
And as every Game 7 overtime promises, a hero was waiting in the wings.
Just five minutes into the extra frame, Jacob Caron etched his name into Peninsula hockey lore, burying the winner and setting off pandemonium at Panorama.
The goal secured the Panthers’ fourth VIJHL championship – and their second in four years – ensuring that the VIJHL’s first season of independence won’t be forgotten.