The Westshore Wolves continue to be tested in Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League play.
One night after downing the Peninsula Panthers 9-2 at The Q Centre, the Wolves were forced to play catchup most of the way against Nanaimo, losing 4-2 to the Buccaneers on Thursday at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
The Wolves (8-3-0), leading the South Division to start last week, lost top spot Sunday to the surging Victoria Cougars (8-1-1), who beat Kerry Park 4-3 in overtime for their fifth straight win.
Last week in Nanaimo, the Wolves’ Brett Lervold cut the Bucs’ lead to one, 3-2, scoring from Kyle Richter and Cory Hatcher with 2:40 left.
Nanaimo led 2-1 after one period and extended their lead to 3-1 with a power play goal by Will McNamara 34 seconds into the third. The locals scored into an empty net goal in the final minute to seal the victory.
Connor Krupa also scored for Westshore. Riley Welyk absorbed the loss in goal, stopping 21 of 23 shots. Chris Smith played 7:51 of the game and stopped three of the four shots he faced.
On Wednesday, the picture was different, as the Wolves scored four goals in the first and second periods to take the Panthers out of the game early.
Jacob Malloch and Nick Guiney scored twice apiece in the win, while Krupa, Nicholas Polomark, Richter, Lervold and Tyler Smith notched singles. Smith picked up the win in goal.
Braeden Pearce and Conner Mowat scored for Peninsula.
The Wolves play league-leading Campbell River Storm tonight (Oct. 7) at The Q Centre. Westshore takes on the Braves in Saanich this Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Pearkes Recreation Centre.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com