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Midget Blues advance to final four

The midget rep Blues have advanced to the playoff final four by dispatching Abbotsford last weekend. In the first of a home-and-home series, the Blues won 1-0 on Saturday.

The midget rep Blues have advanced to the playoff final four by dispatching Abbotsford last weekend.

In the first of a home-and-home series, the Blues won 1-0 on Saturday.

Despite out-shooting and out-playing Abbotsford, the Blues were frustrated by a red-hot goalie and found themselves locked in a scoreless draw late in the third period. Winning was crucial if they wanted to keep the home ice advantage in the series.

The Blues pressed hard in the last minute and were rewarded with a face off deep in the Abbotsford end. Kyle Bergh won the draw back to Brad Kohuch who fired the puck at the Abbotsford goal. When Abbotsford failed to clear the rebound, Kyle recovered the puck and darted behind the net, drawing the defence to him.

With time winding down, he found Nick Shoji alone out front, and Nick made no mistake, wiring home a shot with 18 seconds left.

Game two was Sunday in Gibsons and started out much like Saturday's game, with the Blues carrying the play. This time, however, Nick rewarded the Blues with an early goal.

Nick continued to hold the hot-hand scoring again in the second before Abbotsford finally solved goalie Garrett Devison with their first goal of the series.

This gave Abbotsford some life and they pressed for the equalizer, but the Blues' defence was rock solid.

The Blues then scored on a late second period power play as Tyler Graham rushed the puck up the boards, beating three defenders before finding Brennen Meyers in front of the net, who then snapped the pass home.

That goal seemed to take the fight out of Abbotsford and the Blues piled it on in the third. Goals by Robbie Casey, Austin Clarke, Kyle Bergh and Robert Dixon turned the game into a runaway in an 8-1 rout.

The Blues now have a couple of weeks to prepare for the final four series where the top two teams will advance to the provincial championships in Port Alberni.

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