To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.
The Comox Valley Glacier Kings took that sports adage to heart on Jan. 4 as they blanked the defending Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League champions Victoria Cougars 1-0 in Courtenay.
Jordan Crisp scored with 1:33 remaining in regulation and Michael Hails made 23 saves for his second shutout of the season as the Yetis (third in the North Division) handed the Cougars (first in the South Division) just their seventh regulation loss in 35 games this season.
The nail-biter was described by one keen spectator as “the best game in the entire league this season. Playoff fast, great defensive plays, both goalies spectacular.”
Crisp decided the issue with his third goal of the year from a scramble in front of the Victoria net. That was good enough to earn him game second-star honours. Cougars’ netminder Connor Beauchcamp (13 saves) was third star.
Victoria went 0-for-6 on the power play while the Glacier Kings went 0-for-7.
On Jan. 2 in Courtenay the Icemen dropped a 3-1 decision to North Division leading Campbell River Storm. The Yetis shocked the visitors with a tally just 40 seconds into the game but couldn’t beat goalie Jack Surgenor the rest of the way.
The Storm pulled even on the power play midway through the first, went in front on a short-handed tally early the third, then sealed the deal with an empty-netter with six clicks left on the clock.
Wil Finlay (first of the season) scored the Comox Valley goal and was the game’s second star. Hails stopped 24 shots and was the game’s first star. Curtis Toneff (1g, 1a) of C.R. was the third star.
The Yetis return to action this weekend with a home-and-home series against the Oceanside Generals. The Generals are at the Comox Valley Sports Centre on Friday, Jan. 10 (game time 7:30 p.m.) then host the return visit Saturday, Jan. 11 at Oceanside Place.
ICE CHIPS Duncan Pernal of the G-Kings is tied for eighth in league in league scoring with 41 points (20g, 21a) … former G-King Sheldon Brett has four points (2g, 2a) through eight games since joining the BCHL Trail Smoke Eaters …B.C. Jr. B rankings (VIJHL, KIJHL, PJHL) as of Jan. 5 show the Glacier Kings (20-11-1-2) 12th of 39 teams … the Cougars (26-7-1-1) are sixth and the Storm (22-9-2-2) ninth …
