One was dubbed a "greasy road win," the other a solid come-from-behind effort against a strong opponent.
The result of the two different contests was a weekend road sweep for the North Island Eagles peewee rep hockey team, which finished its Vancouver Island Hockey League placement schedule with a 4-1 record following wins against Victoria and Victoria Racquet Club.
The weekend started with a 6-4 win over the Victoria Ice Hawks, but the team was left disappointed in making it a white-knuckled ride after jumping out to a 4-0 lead.
On Sunday at Victoria Racquet Club, however, the Eagles faced a stronger opponent and spent much of the game trailing by a goal or two. But the team battled back in the third period and knotted the score 5-5 when Devin White lifted a wrist shot into the top corner of the net. Then, with about six minute remaining, Rhys Dutcyvich netted the game-winner. Payton Laming sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final minute.
"The come-from-behind road win against a good team felt awesome," head coach Marty Gage said. "The team showed a lot of character and determination."
The peewees travel to Port Alberni for a tournament over the Thanksgiving weekend. The following weekend the VIHL will slot each of its teams into a competitive division for the coming season, which will begin the weekend of Oct. 26-27.
