Two big wins against North Division rivals have lifted the Comox Valley Glacier Kings into a tie for spot with those same two teams.
On Oct. 17 the Yetis knocked off the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s best team, the Campbell River Storm, 4-2. Two days earlier they defeated the Nanaimo Buccaneers 5-4.
The Yetis (8-5-0-2), Bucs (8-4-1-1) and Storm (8-4-1-1) are now tied for top spot in the North with 18 points each. The Glacier Kings are the hottest team in the league, having won their last four games. They are also second in league scoring, with their 58 goals surpassed by only Victoria Cougars (66).
On Oct. 17 at the Comox Valley Sports Centre, the Icemen’s power play proved too potent for the Storm as it clicked three times in the 4-2 win. The visitors opened the scoring courtesy of Dylan McCann at the 5:12 mark of the first period, but the lead was short-lived as first star Curtis Csuk connected on the power play at 7:35. Second star Kyle Wade and Sheldon Brett drew assists.
Brett (from Csuk and Wade) made it 2-1 at 0:59 of the second on the power play, and 30 seconds later it was Grayden McInnes (from Grant Iles and Ty Madden) tallying the game winner on the PP.
Newly acquired Jordan Harding-Bautista (from McInnes and Ben Raffler) upped the lead to 4-1 at 9:55, then the Campbell River PP clicked when Braden Cyra zinged the strings at 15:10.
Paul Broadbent picked up the win in net and earned third star honours. The Storm out-shot the Yeti 28-22. Things got a little heated late in the game, with Cyra and Alex Brewer of the Storm both drawing 10-minute misconducts.
On Oct. 15 at the Nanaimo Ice Centre, the G-Kings built a 4-0 lead by thee 24-second mark of the third period then hung on for the 5-4 win.
Brandon McReynolds and Madden (on the power play) spotted the Yetis a 2-0 first-period lead, with Harding-Bautista making it 3-0 at 15:46 of the second.
Tyson Slater tallied just 24 seconds into the final frame to extend the lead to four goals. Jayden Schubert got the Bucs on the scoreboard at 4:07, with Willie Daigneault making it 5-1 at 8:08.
Nanaimo exploded for three goals in just over four minutes as they out-shot the Icemen 19-8 in the final frame, but Braddock Otton (also recently acquired from the Oceanside Generals) shut the door over the final two minutes to preserve the win.
The G-Kings return to action Oct. 21 when they take on the Westshore Wolves at The Q Centre. They host South Division leading Victoria Cougars Oct. 24 (7:30 p.m. SC#1) then close out the month Oct. 30 against the Saanich Braves at George Pearkes Arena.
