Home ice proved to be no advantage to either team when the Comox Valley Glacier Kings and Campbell River Storm hooked up in a weekend home-and-home series.
A series sweep by the Yetis could have leapfrogged them past the Storm and into first place in the North Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
The Icemen got the series off to a great start, winning 4-1 Jan. 24 in Campbell River to close to within a single point of the Storm.
First place was on the line Jan. 25 when they teams reconvened in Courtenay, but the Storm refused to relinquish their hold on top spot and edged the Icemen 3-2.
The Storm came out flying Saturday night at the Comox Valley Sports Centre, outshooting the Glacier Kings 27-15 through the first two periods en route to a 3-0 lead by the 3:23 mark of the middle stanza.
Nick Govig got the Yetis on the board at 15:51, and Ali Gotmy’s power-play goal at 13:24 of the third got the fans back into the game, but C.R. goalie Jack Surgenor (of Courtenay) slammed the door on the comeback bid.
The visitors outshot the Icemen 33-24, with Comox Valley goalie Michael Hails named first star. Govig was second star and former Storm forward Jordan Kamprath was third star.
Friday night in Campbell River, Govig grabbed first star honours for his three-goal performance in the Glacier Kings 4-1 win. Hails was second star as the Yetis outshot the Storm 49-34 and were perfect (9-for-9) on the penalty kill.
Govig and Kamprath were a two-man wrecking crew in this contest as Kamprath assisted on all three of Govig’s goals, including the game winner.
Nicholas Tupper tallied the other Comox Valley goal. The Yetis led 2-1 after one period and 3-1 after two.
The weekend split leaves the Glacier Kings (25-13-1-2) in second place, three points back of the Storm (26-11-2-2). The teams meet once more in the regular season, Feb. 10 in Campbell River.
ICE CHIPS The regular season ends Feb. 15 … the Glacier Kings had APs Keegan Selva and Ethan Sundstrom in the lineup Friday while AP Kyle Wade suited up for Saturday’s game …
