One week into 2017 might be too early for the sports adage “Wait till next year” to pop up.
But you can’t blame the Comox Valley Glacier Kings if that thought has crossed their minds after their first three games of the new year.
Opening the second half of their 2016-17 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League campaign, the Yetis have dropped three straight games, including a couple against North Division opponents. The Icemen rang in the new year with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Saanich Braves, fell 3-1 to the Nanaimo Buccaneers and dropped a 5-2 decision to the Campbell River Storm.
The G-Kings will be looking to get back on the winning track this weekend when they play a home-and-away with the Oceanside Generals. They host the Gens Saturday, Jan. 14 (7:30 p.m. Comox Valley Sports Centre Arena #1) then repay the visit Sunday, Jan. 15 with a 2:15 p.m. matinee in Parksville.
Jan. 7 in Courtenay, the North Division leading Storm out-shot the Glacier Kings 45-17 en route to the 5-2 win. Comox Valley goalie Marcus Gloss earned first-star honours for his stalwart effort in a losing cause.
The Yetis led 2-0 early in the second on goals by Austin Heidt and Caleb Dolman before the Storm struck for three goals in just under five minutes – part of a 21-shot barrage – to grab the lead.
Gloss was also busy Jan. 5 in Nanaimo when the Bucs out-shot the Icemen 43-24 en route to their 3-1 victory. Gloss earned second star accolades in this one.
Nanaimo led 2-0 after one period and 2-1 after two. Dolman netted the lone Comox Valley goal. The win gave the second-place Bucs (21-13-0) some breathing room over the third-place Yetis (17-14-1) in the North Division.
Jan. 3 in Courtenay was a hard-luck loss for the Yetis as they were edged 4-3 in double overtime by the Braves.
The Yetis led 2-1 after one period and it was 3-2 after two. After a scoreless third period and first OT session, the visitors pulled out the win on Nick Guerra’s penalty shot at 4:24 of the second OT.
It was a tough loss for Gloss, who kicked out 29 shots only to have to face the league’s leading scorer in the deciding one-on-one showdown.
First star Jake McKenzie (2) and third star Derick Smith scored for the Icemen, who were out-shot 33-30.
