The Comox Valley Glacier Kings split their last two Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League games, beating the Saanich Braves 5-1 on Nov. 14 on the road and losing 2-1 on Nov. 15 to the Victoria Cougars at home.
The Cougars are the stingiest cats in the league when it comes to defence, having allowed a league-low 34 goals-against through 20 games.
The defence proved tough to crack on Saturday night at the Comox Valley Sports Centre, as Dylan Sampson’s power-play goal midway through the third period was the only shot to elude Grant Payne, who posted his eighth win of the season.
Sampson was the game’s second star. The third star was Sam McMullen (third in league scoring) who netted the only goal of the first period. Michael Fretz netted the game-winner at 8:43 of the third.
Despite taking the loss, Zachary Straza stood tall in goal for the G-Kings and was named the game’s first star. Victoria (riding an eight-game winning streak) out-shot Comox Valley 24-19 but went 0-for4 on the power play to the Yetis 1-for-4.
Straza was equally sharp on Nov. 14 in Saanich, kicking out 28 shots to backstop the Icemen to a convincing 5-1 win over the Braves.
Seamus Maguire’s unassisted shorthanded goal early in the third was the only shot Straza did not turn aside. The Glacier Kings led 1-0 after one period and 5-0 after two. They out-shot Saanich 30-29 and went 3-for-5 on the power play while the Braves went 0-for-8.
Team scoring leader Derian Hamilton’s eighth goal of the year, on the power play, was the only scoring in the first. The Icemen erupted for three goals in just over three minutes in the second, Sheldon Brett tallying the game-winner at 6:04 then Brandon McReynolds lighting the lamp at 7:15 and 9:12 (on the power play). Kyle Wade’s power-play marker at 18:28 took the worry out of being close.
The Yetis remain in second place in the North Division and host a big game this Saturday, Nov. 22 when the third-place Nanaimo Buccaneers, who sit just one point back, come to Courtenay. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Sports Centre Arena #1.
ICE CHIPS Both the G-Kings and Bucs will be looking to snap on-game losing streaks this Saturday … Hamilton is tied for fourth in league scoring with 31 points (8g, 23a) …
