The North Island Eagles midgets' run to the provincial Tier 3 hockey championships came to a heartbreaking halt Saturday, as host Victoria prevailed for a 4-3, double-overtime win over the Eagles in the Vancouver Island semifinals.
A win would have sent the midgets into the Island championship series against Alberni Valley, a 5-1 winner over Sooke in the other semifinal. It also would have sclinched a provincial berth for the midgets, as Alberni Valley will host this year's Tier 3 provincials and gets an automatic berth.
Trailing 3-2, the Eagles fended off defeat in regulation Saturday with a dramatic tying goal with just 6.8 seconds remaining in the third period.
Skating without his stick, which had broken, Chad Bell used his skate to kick a pass from his own zone to teammate Robby Heavenor. Heavenor sent the puck ahead to Ethan Shaw, who netted the tying goal.
After the teams played one scoreless overtime period, Victoria finally scored the sudden-death game-winner at 17:32 of the second overtime.
The Eagles got off to a quick start, with Bell scoring off a Heavenor assist just 2:48 into the game. But, despite being whistled for just eight minutes in penalties on the day, the midgets were hurt by the Hawks' power play.
The hosts tied the game at 3:36 of the first with the man advantage, then moved in front 2-1 on another power-play goal at 8:16 of the second.
Shaw scored early in the third period off assists from Bell and Heavenor to knot the game 2-2, and Victoria scored again midway through the period to set up the rousing final minutes.
Men's Commercial Hockey League
Standings
Through Feb. 20
Team W L T Pts
Warriors 10 5 1 21
Mustangs 7 4 1 15
Islanders 5 7 1 11
Bulls 5 11 1 11
Friday, Feb. 15
Warriors 5, Islanders 2
Friday, Feb. 22
Bulls at Islanders, 8 p.m., Port Alice
Sunday, Feb. 24
Bulls at Mustangs, 5:30 p.m., Port McNeill
Port Hardy 'B' Hockey League
Standings
Through Feb. 20
Team W L T Pts
Stars 10 2 1 21
Whalers 9 3 1 19
Smokers 9 5 1 19
Pioneers 4 4 1 9
Oilers 2 8 0 4
Mainline 2 2 0 4
Rookies 0 15 0 0
Saturday, Feb. 16
Smokers 3, Pioneers 2
Sunday, Feb. 17
Chiefs 8, Bulls 7, exhibition
Sunday, Feb. 24
PH Oldtimers vs. Whalers, 5:15 p.m., Port Hardy
Smokers vs. Rookies, 8:45 p.m.