The Richmond-based U18 AAA Greater Vancouver Canadians (GVC) survived three overtime contests against the Valley West Giants to advance to the second round of the U18 AAA BCEHL playoffs.
The Canadians won the best-of-three series 2-1, winning game three with a dramatic double-overtime victory at the Richmond Olympic Oval on Monday.
The series opened last Saturday, with the Canadians winning 3-2 on an overtime breakaway goal by Ryder Johns.
After Tyler Tse and Kyle Eng gave GVC a 2-0 advantage in the first period, the Giants finally got on the scoreboard with 1:06 left in the second.
The Giants then tied things up five minutes into the third period, setting up the dramatic finish.
With just over six minutes to play in the 10-minute overtime period, a Giants player fanned on a shot at the point, allowing Johns to intercept the puck and skate into the Valley West zone and give the Canadians a 1-0 series lead on the breakaway game-winner.
Remy Quintoro was spectacular in goal for the Canadians in the victory.
In game two on Sunday, it was the Giants who won 3-2 in overtime, staving off elimination.
In game three on Monday, it went to double OT, with the Canadians prevailing 3-2.
Grady Lenton opened the scoring 17 minutes into the game before Kyle Eng scored his third goal of the series early in the third period, and it seemed the Canadians, with the 2-0 lead, were on their way to the second round.
Alas, the Giants broke Remy Quintoro's shutout midway through the third before tying the game with just 5:59 left in regulation.
The first overtime period did not produce a winner, but Caelan Mander rifled a shot from the blueline in the second overtime, with 4:24 to go, and it was the Canadians advancing to the second round.
The Canadians are back at it this weekend in the second round, this time facing the first-place U18 AAA Vancouver North East Chiefs.
