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Junior Ravens remain undefeated

Coming off a win last weekend, the Saratoga Ventures Junior B Ravens were hungry for more as they turned their focus to the Nanaimo Timbermen. The Timbermen travelled to Campbell River for a Sunday afternoon game at Rod Brind’Amour Arena.
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The Ravens’ Blair Freer is thrilled after scoring the Ravens’ second goal in a 14 second span to give his team the lead.

Coming off a win last weekend, the Saratoga Ventures Junior B Ravens were hungry for more as they turned their focus to the Nanaimo Timbermen.

The Timbermen travelled to Campbell River for a Sunday afternoon game at Rod Brind’Amour Arena.

The game started off as a back and forth affair and by the 12 minute mark, shots on goal were close to even with five shots for the Ravens and six for the Timbermen.

After some penalty trouble on both sides, it was the Timbermen who found the back of the net first, after many great saves by Ravens goalie Logan Down.

The defence checked hard but Nanaimo would score one more at 4:30 to take a 2-0 lead after the first.

In the second, the Ravens came out strong and Campbell River’s Brad Remple scored with assists from Blair Freer and Dylan French.

Both teams found themselves killing penalties, playing four on four for most of the middle frame of the game until the Timbermen rallied round the Ravens’ net and scored their third goal of the game.

Two minutes later, the Ravens responded with a goal from Hayden Smith and assists from Josh Whyley and Brayden Howes.

In the third period, the tide turned when the Nanaimo bench started to lose control and on one powerplay the Ravens would explode when Hayden Smith (Josh Whyley) scored at 12:30 to tie up the game and Blair Freer (Tyson Fair) would score again only 14 seconds later at 12:16 to take the Ravens into the lead.

This got the fans to their feet and the Ravens were on a roll.  The Timbermen, desperate to get a goal, and their frustration showing with no markers in the third, pulled their goalie with two minutes left in the game but Raven Mac Maier secured the win with a break away goal into an empty net with a minute left in the game.

The 5-3 victory was the Ravens’ first at home and their second of the season.

The unsportsmanlike conduct of the Nanaimo team had them leaving the floor without shaking hands but the fans were on their feet at the end of the game, cheering the Jr. Ravens for their hard work on the floor.

Logan Down was outstanding in net, allowing three goals on 33 shots.  Ravens players Connor McLeod, Tyson Fair, Chris Vaux, Maier, Cody Gent, Chris Lund, Germany, and Dylan French all played hard on defence and transition while forwards Brad Remple, Adam Donald, Kurtis Vaux, David Vigneron, Freer, Howes, Matt Lund, Whyley and Smith moved the ball around the net, keeping possession or digging hard for lose balls and taking any scoring chances they could.

The Ravens took 53 minutes in penalties while Nanaimo tallied 89.

Next weekend the Ravens face off against the Saanich Braves for the first time this season, on Sun., May 29 at 3:30 p.m. at Rod Brind’Amour Arena.

Tickets cost $3.  Minor Ravens players wearing their jersey get in free.

Bake Sale fundraiser at the door.