The Victoria Cougars and Saanich Braves meet today to begin round two of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League playoffs.
Game time is 3 p.m. at Archie Browning Sports Centre.
The Cougars and Braves ended the season first and second overall in the league, and in the South division.
Back in December at the halfway point of the season, picking these teams in the South final was an easy prediction to make. The Braves were within 11 points of the Cougars but ended 25 points back due to a dismal January.
The Cougars won the Andy Hebenton regular season championship with a record of 45-1-2. The Cougars eliminated the fourth-place Peninsula Panthers in five games in the first round, going 20-for-41 on the power play and 24-for-26 on the penalty kill.
Saanich went 30-14-4 during the season and eliminated the third-place Westshore Wolves in six games of the first round.
During the regular season, the Cougars outscored Saanich 28-14 and out-shot them 285-183.
Victoria went 11-for-43 on the power play to the Braves 4-for-39.
The winner of the Cougars vs. Braves series will advance to the VIJHL Finals and meet the victor of the Comox Valley Glacier Kings vs. Nanaimo Buccaneers North division final.
In round one the Bucs swept the Kerry Park Islanders and the Glacier Kings swept the Oceanside Generals.
Cougars vs. Braves South division finalGAME 2: Monday, March 4, at George R. Pearkes Community Recreation Centre, 7:30 p.m.GAME 3: Thursday, March 7, at Archie Browning, 7 p.m.GAME 4: Friday, March 8, at Pearkes, 6:30 p.m.If necessary GAME 5: Sunday, March 10, at Archie Browning 3 p.m.GAME 6: Wednesday, March 13, at Pearkes, 7:30 p.m.GAME 7: Thursday, March 14, at Archie Browning, 7 p.m.