They Westshore Wolves began last week on a high note, beating Comox Valley 7-1 at The Q Centre.
The momentum was tough to keep up against the powerful Victoria Cougars two nights later at Archie Browning Sports Centre, as the Wolves were dropped 8-3 by the defending Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League champs.
The Thursday night contest in Esquimalt saw the Cougars break open a tight game with five goals in the third period.
Victoria had razor-like efficiency on the power play, scoring on six of eight opportunities.
Wade Johnson notched the hat trick for the Cougars (12-2-1-0) while Sam McMullen tallied five points. The Wolves’ Riley Welyk was in net for all eight goals.
Clay Carslon and Drayson Pears scored 24 seconds apart early in the second period to give the Wolves (12-5-1-0) a 2-1 lead, but it was all Cougars after that.
Robert Zadra, and Johnson, with his first of the night, tallied before the period’s end to restore the lead. The Cougars popped three power play goals in the first 6:27 of the third to put the game almost out of reach.
Quentin McShane had the other Westshore goal.
At home on Oct. 21, the Wolves held period leads of 1-0 and 3-0 en route to the win over the Glacier Kings. Brett Lervold led the attack with a goal and two assists, while singles were scored by Connor Krupa, Cory Hatcher, Jordan Martin, Jordan Law, Nick Guiney and Kyle Richter.
The Wolves host the Kerry Park Islanders tonight (Oct. 29) at 7 p.m.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com