The Storm was just too strong for the Panthers to weather.
Peninsula’s Junior B hockey team had fought back at home on Feb. 25 in a 3-2 win over the top-seeded Campbell River Storm, however they could not hold off a deluge of goals Monday night in a 6-1 Storm win.
The series returned to Campbell River, where every game was a win-or-be-eliminated affair. The Panthers made it interesting, but still came up on the wrong end of a 5-4 score.
The victory gave the Storm a 4-1 opening playoff series win and advance to play the series victor between the Victoria Cougars and Westshore Wolves. That series was deadlocked at two wins apiece going into a Wed., Feb. 28 tilt (and on the PNR’s press deadline). Naniamo and Saanich now square off in second round play.