The VIJHL’s top two teams took no prisoners on Jan. 31 as the North Division leading Campbell River Storm blanked the second-place Comox Valley Glacier Kings 7-0 while the South Division leading Victoria Cougars crushed the fourth-place Kerry Park Islanders 12-0.
Victoria (37-5-1-0) is now one point up on Campbell River (35-4-1-3) in the race for best overall regular season record.
Saturday night at the Comox Valley Sports Centre, the Storm had as many shots in the first period as the Glacier Kings did for the entire game – 14 – as they outshot their hosts 39-14 while enjoying period leads of 3-0 and 4-0.
Liam Young stopped 26 of 32 shots before giving way to AP backup Wilson Beebe six minutes into the third period. Young was named the game’s third star. Riley Welyk earned the shutout.
First star Colin Blake paced the C.R. attack with five points (2g, 3a) while second star Tyler Welch added four points (1g, 3a), the same as Will McNamara.
Things don’t get any easier for the G-Kings as they head into the final month of regular season action as they play six games in 10 days. On Feb. 5 they visit Victoria, on Feb. 7 (7:30 p.m. SC#1) they host the Nanaimo Buccaneers (who they are battling for second place in the North) then on Feb. 8 they are in Campbell River.
On Feb. 9 they play Oceanside (3 p.m. SC#1) in a game rescheduled from Dec. 22, then visit Nanaimo on Feb. 12 and wrap things up Feb. 14 (7:30 p.m. SC#1) at home against the Storm.
