The battle for third in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s South Division is going down to the wire.
The Westshore Wolves, who beat Oceanside 3-2 at home Wednesday night, jumped two points ahead of the Kerry Park Islanders with the win and face the South Division-leading Victoria Cougars in Esquimalt tonight (Feb. 9, 7 p.m.).
Westshore has three games remaining in the regular season, while Kerry Park, who scored a clutch 3-2 win over second-place Saanich on Tuesday, has four left.
Whichever team winds up fourth will have to play the vaunted Cougars in the opening round of the playoffs, while the third-place team faces Saanich.
Last night Corey Hatcher's goal from Zach Benson with 6:29 to play in the third snapped a 2-2 tie and gave the Wolves the victory.
Jake Watson, in the first, and Cole Gardner midway through the second, scored to make it 2-0 Wolves, but the Generals' Bekkam Willis and Stratton Pickett scored late in the middle frame to knot the score.
Jordan Spandli didn't have a lot of work in the Westshore net, but picked up the win after making 14 saves.
The Wolves play their final two games against Peninsula, at home on Feb. 15 (7 p.m., The Q Centre) and at Panorama Recreation Centre on Feb. 17.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com