Oh, snap.
That was the sound of the Comox Valley Glacier Kings’ impressive 10-game win streak coming to an end courtesy of the Campbell River Storm, who posted a 4-0 win Saturday night in Courtenay.
The Yetis defeated the Nanaimo Buccaneers 4-2 Thursday in Nanaimo. It all adds to the excitement in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League North Division, where the Glacier Kings are chasing the Bucs for first place while the Storm is pursuing the Icemen for second spot.
On Saturday at the Comox Valley Sports Centre, hometown minor hockey product Jack Surgenor recorded his third straight shutout for the Storm, who blew open a tight 1-0 game with three unanswered third-period goals.
The teams were scoreless through one period, with Dom Kolbeins’ first of two goals at 7:37 of the second giving the visitors the only goal they would need.
The turning point came on a Campbell River power play in the third, when Glacier King’s leading scorer Duncan Pernal stole the puck and skated in all alone on Surgenor, only to be denied.
The Storm then erupted for three goals in two minutes (including two on the power play) to put the outcome out of reach. Campbell River enjoyed a 41-28 shots on goal advantage and went 2-for-6 on the PP while the Icemen went 0-for-5.
Michael Hails took the loss in net while his counterpart Surgenor earned third-star honours. Kolbiens was first star and Derian Hamilton of the Glacier Kings was second star.
On Nov. 14 in Nanaimo, Hails was the first star as the Icemen knocked off the Buccaneers 4-2, outshooting them 29-26 in the process. After a scoreless first frame, the teams were tied 2-2 after two with Pernal netting the winner just 26 seconds into the third period.
Nicholas Tupper, Ali Gotmy and Austin McNeil had the other Comox Valley goals while second-star Sheldon Brett chipped in with a pair of assists. Both Nanaimo goals came on the power play.
The intense race for first place in the North Division resumes this weekend as the Glacier Kings are in Campbell River on Friday (7:30 p.m. Rod Brind’Amour Arena) and host Nanaimo on Saturday (7:30 p.m. Sports Centre Arena #1).
ICE CHIPS The Yetis (15-9-0-1) are three points back of the Bucs (17-6-0-0) and one point up on the Storm (14-7-1-1) … Pernal (18g, 16a) is third in league scoring while Brett (15g, 18a) is tied for fourth … Hails is fifth in goalie stats with an 8-5 record, 2.99 GAA and .911 save percentage … in the Nov. 17 rankings (based on winning percentage) of B.C. Jr. B teams, the Glacier Kings are 13th of 39 teams … league standings and top scorers in Scoreboard, B?? … latest updates at www.vijhl.com …
