On this win streak, the Buccaneers aren’t just winning – they’re blowing away the competition.
The Nanaimo Buccaneers (6-0) raced past the Comox Valley Glacier Kings by an 8-3 score on Thursday at the Nanaimo Ice Centre to continue their scorching start to the 2013-14 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season.
The game was 4-3 going into the third period and the Yetis got an early five-on-three power play in that frame, but the home team killed it off, scored a PP goal of its own and remained on the attack the rest of the way.
“We’re going to play and have fun. We’re going to get beat one day, it’s a matter of time…” said Brad Knight, the team’s coach. “You might as well enjoy it while you’re winning because when you get on a losing skid, it sucks.”
The coach said the wins now are important, because the other teams are full of young, improving players.
“We have to make sure we keep working and make sure we’re getting better because they’re going to be getting better,” said Lee Orpen, Bucs alternate captain.
For now, though, Nanaimo is skating a few strides ahead. Thursday’s win was full of highlight-reel goals by the home team. Will McNamara had two goals and three assists, Orpen had a goal and three helpers, Garrett Dunlop had a goal and two assists and Noah Russi, Riel Gibson, Johnathan Speer and Jordan Levesque were the other scorers.
“We want to keep this streak going as long as we can, because it’s fun,” Orpen said. “This is fun coming to the rink.”
GAME ON … The Bucs visit the Kerry Park Islanders tonight (Sept. 21) at 7:30 p.m. at Mill Bay. Next home action for the Buccaneers is Thursday (Sept. 26) when they take on the Saanich Braves at 7:15 p.m. at the NIC.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
