Kalan Anglos
Special to the Record
The captain of a sports team is one who commands, leads, or guides his team through thick and thin; through good and bad. When that captain is absent, the ship can veer off course.
In the case of the Comox Valley Glacier Kings, the team (or ship) was momentarily rudderless in the absence of their captain this weekend.
Jackson Garrett, the captain and one who guides the Kings toward victory, is not only displaying his leadership this season, he is showing his offensive prowess as well. Through 15 games, the Yetis’ captain has tallied 18 goals to go along with 18 assists. Those 36 points are good enough for first place in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League, seven points ahead of Victoria’s Steve Axford.
“He’s been huge for us this year,” said Kings’ defenceman Desmond Bast, who is yet to return to action from a concussion suffered earlier this year. “He sets the table for the rest of the guys and really steps his game up when we need him most.”
Perhaps, on Saturday night, the Kings could have used their captain when they hosted their North Division rival Campbell River Storm. Garrett, sidelined with a knee injury, could only sit and watch as his team succumbed to the determined Storm onslaught.
Looking for their first win against the Kings this year, the Storm were powered by forward Dane Feeney, who opened the scoring at 9:25 of the first period. Adam Robertson answered for the Kings, throwing the puck on net which somehow squeaked past Storm goaltender Nick Babich.
But the Storm took over in the second, firing four goals, two by Feeney (first star) to give him the hat trick before the end of the frame. Chase Haley scored the only goal in the third to give Campbell River the 6-2 victory. The lone bright spot for the Kings was goaltender Jackson Winkler, who replaced starter Ben Tarnowski in the second period. Winkler saved 20 of the 21 shots he faced and did his best to keep the Kings in the game.
On Sunday, the Kings travelled to Parksville to take on another North Division foe, the Oceanside Generals. Garrett, back in the lineup to steer the Kings back on course, was there to lead the way. With the top line of Garrett, Myles Powell, and Garrett Brandsma intact, the Kings went to work.
Garrett Halls got the scoring started, receiving a no-look pass from Brandsma. Powell hooked up with his top line counterparts before Taylor Grobowski answered back for the Generals. Garrett scored his first of the game on the power play, while Powell made it a 4-1 game to end an exciting first period.
In the second, Garrett (second star) scored, set up again by Powell (third star) and Halls. Nathan Deyell replied for the Generals before the end of the period to make it 5-2. In the third Winkler, getting the start after his impressive relief work the night before, shut the door stopping all 13 shots he faced in the period to seal the victory. Brandsma (first star) assisted on four of the five Yeti goals.
With the team heading in the right direction once again, the Kings play another home-and-home against the Storm this weekend. The first game goes Friday, Nov. 4 at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena in Campbell River while the following night the Kings will host the Storm at the Comox Valley Sports Centre. Puck drop for both games is 7:30 p.m.
Kalan Anglos is the Internet voice of the Glacier Kings. All their home games can be heard by following the links at www.glacierkings.ca.
