The Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners defeated the University of Victoria (UVic) Vikes to win the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League title last weekend in Logan Lake, B.C.

Why does that matter to those of you reading this? Because both teams had some local skin in the game.

In the end, it was Austin Daniels who ended up smiling in the end with his teammates from VIU. The downside? Both Ethan Anstey and Sam Schofield were on the losing end.

The Mariners were victorious in the title game, 6-2, capping off a season which saw them finish first in the regular season before closing it out in the league playoff tournament.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a case of finally coming good for the Mariners, who fell in last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 final to Simon Fraser University; Daniels was a part of that squad which fell one year ago as was Brady Daniels, his older brother who has since graduated.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had a really good core group of guys and we brought in a lot of new guys, but we felt really good about our chances,SA国际影视传媒� said Austin Daniels. SA国际影视传媒淲e felt this was our year and we had the team to do it.SA国际影视传媒�

The playoff tournament was held in a Page playoff format, which is familiar to those who watch curling. All five teams in the league made it in with the fourth and fifth-placed teams doing battle to get into the final four. VIU and UVic were first and second respectively during the season and that meant they occupied the top two spots. That was key because under the Page format, the top two seeds get two chances to make it to the final.

Both teams would meet in the quarter-final phase and VIU would win that contest, 4-3, giving VIU a straight bye to the final where they would await the winner of the semifinal between UVic and the Okanagan Lakers. UVic would win that by a score of 4-0 to set up the rematch.

Going into the final, Anstey said he knew it would be an even contest.

SA国际影视传媒淚f you look at our games against them this season, youSA国际影视传媒檒l see why,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t was pretty much a one-goal game each time, except for the final. We had the confidence and we knew we would have to beat VIU to win it.SA国际影视传媒�

UVic started off the better of the two teams in the final and it was Anstey who opened the scoring in the first period on the power-play.

And of course the penalized player just happened to be Austin Daniels.

SA国际影视传媒淵eah, I was in the box for that one,SA国际影视传媒� said Daniels.

VIU would equalize late in the second period and would go out in front near the end of the frame with a power-play marker of their own to take a 2-1 lead into the third period.

SA国际影视传媒淲e got the first one, they tied it up and then take the lead and we could feel the momentum begin to shift a bit,SA国际影视传媒� said Anstey. We needed to stay up and stay positive because weSA国际影视传媒檙e only down by one at that point.SA国际影视传媒�

VIU extended their lead five minutes into the third, but UVic got one back a couple of minutes later on the power play to cut the deficit to 3-2. VIU would restore the two-goal spread exactly 14 seconds after UVicSA国际影视传媒檚 second goal, but the dagger came with less than five minutes to play as VIU scored another one with the man advantage to make it 5-2. One more with less than 30 seconds to go put the cherry on top for VIU.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat fifth goal was the big one for us,SA国际影视传媒� said Daniels. SA国际影视传媒淲e killed off a 5-on-3 and then we go out and get that one. It made us breathe easier, for sure.SA国际影视传媒�

VIU went into the game the fresher of the two teams in terms of games played. They didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have to play one extra as UVic had to and Daniels figures that may have been a big reason as to why they were able to pull off the win.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think they were a bit tired,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 tough to have to play three games back-to-back-to-back and the rest day for us was huge. We wanted to go all out in that first game, make a point and get to the final quickly.SA国际影视传媒�

On the flipside, Anstey said the fifth goal was definitely the backbreaker.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 a big reason why it got away from us,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淥ne game dictates it all and itSA国际影视传媒檚 tough because you canSA国际影视传媒檛 make any mistakes.SA国际影视传媒�

With the season now over, all three of YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 finest can relax until the puck drops on a new campaign in the fall.

Daniels said he knows UVic will be looking to get their revenge.

SA国际影视传媒淚t sucks to beat guys who youSA国际影视传媒檝e known for years and who you grew up playing with, but theySA国际影视传媒檒l get another shot,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 looking forward to the battles next year because theySA国际影视传媒檙e going to be good.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 told Austin in the handshake line that weSA国际影视传媒檒l be right back there next season,SA国际影视传媒� said Anstey. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 proud of what we were able to do, especially with so many first-year guys. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e a young group and weSA国际影视传媒檒l start preparing in the off-season.SA国际影视传媒�