The Westshore Wolves got a sense of the power of the Campbell River Storm when the Vancouver Island Hockey League’s South Division leaders travelled to meet the top junior B squad in the north for the first time this season.
After seeing the pesky Wolves score twice to pull within a goal at 3-2, the Storm gave the home fans in Rod Brind’Amour Arena something to cheer about last Friday, scoring three unanswered goals in the last half of the third period and cruising to a 6-2 win.
Despite the loss, the Wolves (7-2) remain first in their division, having beat the Oceanside Generals 6-2 last Wednesday at The Q Centre.
Westshore is back home tomorrow night (Oct. 1, 7 p.m. puck drop) to take on the Peninsula Panthers for a third time this season.
In Campbell River, the Wolves peppered Storm goaltender Joey Karrer with 20 shots in the first period alone – they outshot their hosts 47-37 overall – but went into the first intermission trailing 2-0.
Christian Brandt scored his second of the game early in a penalty filled second period to make it 3-0, but Connor Krupa cut the gap to 3-1 with a shorthanded marker from Kayle Ramsay 13:08 in.
The Wolves’ Spencer Preece scored unassisted 11:06 into the third to cut the gap to one, but it was all Storm after that.
Colin Blake and Michael Olson scored four minutes apart to give the locals some breathing room, then Gavin Rauser put the icing on the cake, scoring with 15 seconds left. The Storm, who beat Comox Valley 3-2 in overtime the next night, now sit at 8-0.
On Sept. 24, Richter had a hat trick and added an assist as the Wolves mauled the Generals. Nick Guiney, Corey Peterson and Preece also scored in the win, while Logan Savard and Kyle Wade replied for Oceanside.
Riley Welyk picked up the win in goal, making 31 saves.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
