The Comox Valley Glacier Kings are back in action tonight as they host the Oceanside Generals in one of four games on the VIJHL slate. The Glacier Kings will look to rebound after a 4-3 loss in Nanaimo on Thursday. The Generals, after a 12-0 blowout loss to Peninsula on Halloween, have rebounded to win their last two games including a 1-0 shutout in Campbell River last night. Braylon Becker scored the only goal of the game midway through the second period and Ethan Suhr picked up his first shutout of the season.

The Gens and the Glacier Kings both share one thing in common as neither team has a player in the top 20 in scoring. Ryken Lay is 23rd in the VIJHL with 10G, 8A in 19 games. Zaya Morro is tied for 24th with 6G, 11A also in 19 games. Oceanside does not have anyone that averages a point per game while Ethan Gobel is the only player on the home side to hit that mark (17pts in 14 games).

Special teams will be very interesting tonight. Comox Valley needs to start creating more opportunities as they have only had the man advantage twice in the last 3 games. Leon Mikhalchuk leads the team with 3 power play goals. As for the Generals, they’ve had 17 opportunities in their last 3 contests. Jacob Leamy, Ryder Bradford and Braylon Becker lead their squad with two each.

Power Play
Oceanside: 12.2% (10th)
Comox Valley: 16.3% (9th)

Penalty Kill
Oceanside: 77.8 (9th)
Comox Valley: 81.3 (6th)

The Glacier Kings are about .500 when it comes to Goals For and Goals Against (13 PPG For/12 PPG Against) so it’s really the even strength play that has been the difference for them this year. At even strength, (5 on 5, 4 on 4, 3 on 3, the shootout not included), they are -14. Head coach/GM Curtis Toneff emphasized that his team, especially some of the more experienced players need to get better, “I went back and did the plus/minus 5 on 5 for the whole season and there’s some guys that have been on the ice for maybe five 5 on 5 goals for and some of these are veteran guys. You can only stick with for so long before there’s a guy that comes along that you might want to give an opportunity to. They haven’t seized their opportunities.” In case you’re wondering, some of the best plus/minus players on the squad are Kyle Mayenburg, Landen May and Ethan Gobel.

Oceanside is one of the hottest teams in the VIJHL right now winning 5 of their last 6 games. It seems like just a month ago they were in last place in the division. Veteran play by play broadster and multiple winner of the “Broadcaster of the Year” award Kyle Ireland talked about what is key for his club, “The Gens need to stay out of the box… the PK worked overtime last night going 6/6 in Campbell River. They need to keep rollin’ on the road… 7-4 best record in the North. If the Gens continue to get great goaltending they will be very successful. Head coach Garrett Dunlop called all 3 goalies “our rocks” last night during a second intermission interview. Not sure who is dressing yet. The guys need to use their speed and have a great forecheck against a very well coached team.” Kyle then summed it all up with, “Three factors… speed, stay out of the box and continue to play well on the road.” He will be broadcasting the game on 88.5 The Beach. Meanwhile, Comox has a chance to get back to .500 on home ice tonight as they sport a 2-3-1-1 record. The GKings have played 12 of their 19 games on the road this season.

These 2 clubs have played twice this season with both sides winning once. On September 19th, the Gens took the match 4-3 while the Yeti came back to win the second on October 18th by a 2-0 score. Oceanside currently sits in second place in the North Division with an 11-8-0-0 record, one point behind Nanaimo and four ahead of third place Campbell River. Comox Valley (7-9-2-1) is now tied for 4th after Port Alberni’s win over Kerry Park last night. Puck drop is 6:30 PM at the Sports Centre. I have the Glacier Kings lineup posted on the “Gameday Lineups” page of this blog.

Darryl Skender