Brad Cook isn’t taking anything for granted and neither will his hockey team.

The Saanich Braves may have finished 15 points better than the Campbell River Storm, but those numbers go out the front door of George Pearkes Arena, where the two Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League teams begin their best-of-seven first-round playoff series tonight at 7:30.

With a regular-season record of 4-2 against Campbell River, Cook knows his team will have to weather, and eventually tame, the Storm.

“The two losses there were a little concerning, but both were by a goal. It’s part of the growing pains of junior hockey,” said Cook, the Braves’ head coach.

“They’ve got a young team. It may not be the most skilled team, but they attempt to beat you with their work ethic. In both losses, they did that. They’re tenacious and they like to get you off your game with their physical play.

“The scary part about them is their goaltender, Nick Babich. He can steal a game which, in turn, can steal a series. We have to be conscious of our puck management, not throw it blind. I think patience has to be the No. 1 thing,” Cook added of facing Babich, who carries a 3.86 goals-against average and .889 save percentage into the series.

Game 2 goes Friday at Pearkes and, as of Tuesday, Games 3 and 4 were yet to be decided, with a return to Pearkes next Wednesday, if needed.

The No. 5-seeded Peninsula Panthers travel to face the No. 4-rated Oceanside Generals tonight in Game 1 of their series with Game 2 set back at Panorama Recreation Centre on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Kerry Park (No. 6) opened up the VIJHL playoffs Tuesday night versus Comox Valley (No. 3).

“I feel good about it,” said Cook, whose Braves are seeded No. 2 after a 21-15-0-6 regular season. “We like our matchup against Campbell River.

“The guys are pretty proud of our accomplishment. It’s been a long time since Saanich finished second overall in the league. We’re proud of that. We didn’t have huge expectations coming in as a group. I know I did, in my mind, but I never laid any of those on the team.”

Ty Jones — who recently visited Elmira College in New York, where he’s likely to commit to the Div. III school — led the Braves offensively. He finished tied for first in league scoring with 75 points with Steve Axford of the Victoria Cougars, only in seven fewer games. Jones had an impressive 34 goals and 41 helpers in just 34 outings.

Jack Palmer of Saanich placed sixth in league scoring with 24 goals and 53 points in 37 games. Goaltender Tanner McGaw was also solid, playing 34 of 42 games with a 3.33 goals against average and .903 save percentage.

The VIJHL regular-season-champion Victoria Cougars, easily the best team at 36-5-0-1, await the lowest-seeded club to advance from the opening round.

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