The Saanich Braves score on Aaron de Kok during regular season Junior B action at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River, B.C. on Jan. 18, 2020. The Storm fell to the Braves 4-3 in a shootout. Photo by Marissa Tiel/Campbell River Mirror
More photos under story.
Campbell River’s second of three back-to-back games this weekend came down to a battle of the goalies.
Both the Saanich Braves’ Robert Michetti and Campbell River Storm’s Aaron de Kok faced more than 35 shots in the eventual 4-3 shootout loss for the Storm.
Campbell River got on the board early in the first period with Noah Fladager scoring the first and second goals of the game at 2:31 (power play) and 6:13.
Saanich would split the difference with under two minutes to go in the period to make it 2-1 heading into the first intermission.
Under two minutes into the second period, the Braves tied things up. Campbell River’s Jory Swanson got the go-ahead goal at 11:50, but Saanich was able to tie things up again at 18:53.
The overtime period didn’t decide anything either, so the teams went to a shootout.
Ryan Strange shot first for Saanich and scored. Storm goalie Aaron de Kok stopped Saanich’s next two shooters, Jake Wilhelm and Dayton Clarke, but it wasn’t enough. Storm shooters Brett Kinley, Noah Fladager and Pearce Messer couldn’t solve their former teammate Michetti and the Braves dealt the Storm their 10th loss of the season.
The Storm are back in action on the road this afternoon against the Victoria Cougars. It’s a make-up game for their Nov. 24 match.
Playoffs are rapidly approaching with just five home games left in the regular season.
The Storm are currently first in the North Division with 51 points. The Oceanside Generals are second with 47 points, while the Nanaimo Buccaneers are third with 33 points.
In the South Division, the Peninsula Panthers are first with 60 points, followed by the Victoria Cougars with 59 points and the Westshore Wolves with 41 points.
Noah Fladager is all smiles after his second goal during regular season Junior B action at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River, B.C. on Jan. 18, 2020. The Storm fell to the Braves 4-3 in a shootout. Photo by Marissa Tiel/Campbell River MirrorJosh Pederson dodges Evan Abgrall during regular season Junior B action at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River, B.C. on Jan. 18, 2020. The Storm fell to the Braves 4-3 in a shootout. Photo by Marissa Tiel/Campbell River MirrorBraves’ Jake Wilhelm pulls Noah Fladager away from the Saanich net during regular season Junior B action at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River, B.C. on Jan. 18, 2020. The Storm fell to the Braves 4-3 in a shootout. Photo by Marissa Tiel/Campbell River MirrorPearce Messer takes a shot on net during regular season Junior B action at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River, B.C. on Jan. 18, 2020. The Storm fell to the Braves 4-3 in a shootout. Photo by Marissa Tiel/Campbell River MirrorAaron de Kok makes a stop during regular season Junior B action at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River, B.C. on Jan. 18, 2020. The Storm fell to the Braves 4-3 in a shootout. Photo by Marissa Tiel/Campbell River MirrorRobert Michetti makes a stop during regular season Junior B action at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River, B.C. on Jan. 18, 2020. The Storm fell to the Braves 4-3 in a shootout. Photo by Marissa Tiel/Campbell River MirrorRyan Strange is all smiles after scoring the first goal of the shootout during regular season Junior B action at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River, B.C. on Jan. 18, 2020. The Storm fell to the Braves 4-3 in a shootout. Photo by Marissa Tiel/Campbell River MirrorSaanich goalie Robert Michetti stops Noah Fladager’s shot, the final of the shootout, to secure the win during regular season Junior B action at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River, B.C. on Jan. 18, 2020. The Storm fell to the Braves 4-3 in a shootout. Photo by Marissa Tiel/Campbell River MirrorRobert Michetti stopped two out of three shootout shots to earn the win for the Saanich Braves during regular season Junior B action at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River, B.C. on Jan. 18, 2020. The Storm fell to the Braves 4-3 in a shootout. Photo by Marissa Tiel/Campbell River Mirror
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