Three games in six nights wrapped up 2022 for the Lake Cowichan Kraken.
Playing some of the top teams in the league, the Kraken had trouble finding the back of the net, that is until Dec. 18, when the Kraken played host to the Saanich Braves.
After a Braves goal led things off, Anthony Wilson converted a Dallas Brown pass at 10:27 of the first to tie the score at one. The teams traded goals once more in the period, with Gavin Mastrodonato potting Lake Cowichan’s second of the period with just over a minute left to play. Assists went to Ayden Baldo and Sukhraj Narwal.
A powerplay goal, off the stick of Kyler Smith, made it 3-2 for the Kraken heading into the third period.
At the six-minute mark, Aiden Eddy scored short-handed for Lake Cowichan but Saanich stormed back with two more goals to tie it at 4-4.
It wasn’t until there were 24 seconds left in the third period that defenceman Brayden Ganter scored his second of the year, unassisted on the powerplay to lift the Kraken up and over the Braves once and for all. The final score was 5-4.
It was a welcome win after two tough losses.
On Dec. 16, the Comox Valley Glacier Kings visited the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena, and fired 44 shots on goalie Sean Walia. Walia was able to stop 36 of them in a 5-1 Kraken loss. Anthony Wilson scored Cowichan’s lone goal, on the power play, with assists going to Rowan Zapisocki and Rylan Hildebrand.
Two days prior, on Dec. 14, Eddy continued his solid play for the Kraken despite a 4-0 road loss to the Generals in Oceanside. The team was out-shot 46-20 over the course of the game. The Kraken went zero for three on the powerplay but managed to hold the Generals back on all four of their man-advantages as well.
Goalie Brendon Wilson took the loss for Lake Cowichan, stopping 42 of 46 shots on goal.
The Kraken begin 2023 by playing host to the Victoria Cougars on Jan. 6. at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m.