Saturday’s home opener proved a dramatic start to the Campbell River Panago Midget Tyees season.
The Tyees faced off against a fast, tough Saanich Braves team out to spoil opening night. – the Braves wasted no time in taking a 1-0 lead.
The Tyees, however, scored a power-play goal of their own early in the second, with Keaton Dion burying a Braves turn-over.
While never looking dangerous 5-on-5, Saanich took advantage of a power play and took a 2-1 lead later in the second before adding to the lead with a clinical man advantage display just after the ice-clean.
Early in the third, the Tyees built some momentum off a penalty kill thanks to some hard work from Cole Rennie, and bridged the gap with a goal from Luke Lund from an acute angle. Jake McKenzie then scored off a nice give-and-go with Tyson Goebel, tying the game at three.
Following a Braves goal that the otherwise outstanding Nic Kirchner would like back, the Tyees needed heroics late in the third, and were not disappointed. Goebel forced a turnover and, breaking in alone, was hauled down. Penalty shot. Goebel snapped the puck high glove and the home crowd erupted.
But the Tyee captain had more in mind. Stealing a pass at the Saanich blue-line off the face-off, he did the same thing again to the Saanich goalie, stealing the game for Campbell River as the Braves’ roof caved in – 5-4 Tyees.
Buoyed by Saturday’s dramatics, the Tyees came out flying against the Nanaimo Clippers on Sunday, dominating throughout and winning 6-3. The Tyees travel to Saanich for a rematch with the Braves on Saturday.