The Comox Valley Glacier Kings came close again but ended up dropping their 4th straight game, a 2-1 shootout decision to the Port Alberni Bombers on Saturday. It was a fun game for the fans to watch but will have head coach/GM Curtis Toneff scratching his head. That’s because Comox had too many scoring chances to count but didn’t score. That’s been the story for them since the beginning of the season. Despite the loss, they do pick up a very important point.

The scoring started early, in fact just 41 seconds into the game. Bomber forward Malik Oliva carried the puck over the blue line and dropped it back for McCall Nault whose shot from well out beat Timothee Fengos glove side. Not the start Comox wanted to have. They did play much better after that goal and Fengos was solid. That’s how the period ended. Shots were 10-10.

In the second period, the Glacier Kings really picked up the pace and outplayed Port Alberni. Landon Morris had a few really good chances but was stopped by goaltender Joseph Naccarato each time. He did end up on the stat sheet later after delivering an open ice hit that was a little high and received a roughing penalty. Cohen Kallin also came close with some nice stickhandling inside the visitors blue line and took a wrist shot that rung off the inside of the goal post but stayed out. About two minutes later Mateo Morro also hit the post on a one-timer from the slot. Despite all the chances for the Yeti, there would be no scoring by either side. The GKings outshot the Bombers 21-7.

There were some good chances in third by both clubs. Comox easily could have had 4 or 5 goals if it weren’t for Naccarato. The home team would finally tie it up late. Ethan Gobel cycled it down low for Cameron Collins who brought the puck back to the blue line and took a shot that went off a Bomber defenceman, then off the glove of the goaltender and into the back of the net. That goal would force overtime.

There were plenty of opportunities in the extra period as you might expect when it’s 3 on  3 play. Once again both goalies were outstanding and nothing was decided after 10 minutes of the 4th period. So off to the shootout they went. Port Alberni’s Joel Dorn was the only goal scorer out of the 6 shooters and was credited with the game winner on a shot that went off the post and in. Declan Johannesen also pinged the inside of the post that ricocheted out the other side of the net but did not cross the line.

With the shootout loss, the Yeti have now lost 4 in a row (0-2-2) to start October. Despite the point, they remain in the basement in the North Division with a 3-6-2-1 record while the Bombers are 6-6-1-0 which is good for 2nd place, just 1 point behind Campbell River. The Glacier Kings are now off until Friday when they travel to Lake Cowichan. The Bombers next action is Saturday when they host Nanaimo.

Other Observations

• Before the game, Comox released Joel Schmidt and moved Geon Park to Port Alberni for a “Playoff Development Fee.”
• The nets continue to be a problem as they come off their pegs way too often. How hard can it be to fix this issue?
• Speaking of which, the Glacier Kings did put the puck in the net just after the net was pushed off. After a meeting with the 4 officials, the goal was waved off.
• The 60 shots Comox put on the board breaks their season high which was 57 against Kerry Park on September 20th.
• What a game by Port Alberni goalie Joseph Naccarato making 59 saves. That equals a .983 save percentage and doesn’t even count the saves he made in the shootout.
• Cohen Kallin had his 3-game goal streak broken. As mentioned earlier, he came close to making it 4 games in a row but hit the inside of the goal post.
• Comox hit 3 goal posts and had nothing to show for it. Port Alberni hit 1 and it was the game winner.
• Ethan Gobel now has 6 assists in his last 4 games.
• The GKings are 0-3 in games that have been tied after regulation time (0-2 in OT & 0-1 in shootouts).
• Obviously scoring is an issue. The Yeti have scored just 4 goals in their last 4 games.
• Bombers forward Malik Oliva now has 2G, 2A in his last 4 games.
• Comox has not scored a PP goal in 4 straight games.

Darryl Skender