Game 1 Tonight

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The Comox Valley Glacier Kings open their 2025-26 regular season tonight as they travel to Nanaimo to take on the Buccaneers. Nanaimo played home and home series with both Oceanside and Port Alberni during the pre-season going 1-3 with their one win coming in overtime in Port Alberni. Jack Barrett scored the winner at 7:24 of the extra frame which was his 3rd goal and 4th point in 3 exhibition games.

The Glacier Kings meanwhile played Campbell River 3 times and Lake Cowichan twice going a combined 0-4-1, losing all their games by 1 goal (except in Lake Cowichan which was an empty netter that made it 2 goals).  Comox was led by Joel Schmidt who had 3 goals and 1 assist in 3 games. Suhaan Nagra also scored 3 goals during his 5 exhibition games.

It’s hard to see how this year’s Glacier Kings team stacks up against last year’s. They will have fewer 20 year old’s up front than they ended up with last season.  Head coach & GM Curtis Toneff believes the Defence should be better and is expecting the Forwards to be decent as well. He said, “I think with our Forwards, we’ll have 3 second lines and then a real good role line. It’s very early still but I like the attitude of our team. We have to see them execute more but I won’t say better or worse, just need a bigger sample size.”

Scoring goals was difficult at times for Comox Valley last season. Toneff said, “I can see that improving this season. Last year I thought we defended very well. I think me as a coach, maybe need to to loosen up on some details and the let the players make more plays.” Of course the issue with loosening the reigns would most likely have an effect on their defensive systems that they have in place.

It appears the Glacier Kings will start the season with 13 forwards and 5 defenceman. Toneff said that he will keep 5 defenceman for the time being while he awaits the fate of Kyle Mayenburg who is trying out with the Powell River Kings right now. The Comox bench boss also said, “I’m definitely on the hunt for defencemen but I’m just not the kind of guy anymore that in the back of my mind I know a guy I bring in that won’t make it through, and charge him money. I’d rather give the extra reps to our guys and when the one or two good ones come along, pick them up.” As a side note, the Glacier Kings will also be carrying 3 goalies, at least to start the year.

Glacier Kings Matchup Tonight

Comox Valley @ Nanaimo
Date: Sep. 6-25
Time: 7:15 PM
Location: Nanaimo Ice Centre
Comox Valley Record: 0-0-0-0 (T-3rd in North)
Nanaimo Record: 0-0-0-0 (T-3rd in North)
Last Year’s Head To Head: 4-1-0 (For Comox Valley)

Darryl Skender

Glacier Kings Will Start The Season Without A Captain

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The Comox Valley Glacier Kings have announced that they will not name a captain before the start of the regular season on Saturday. Head coach/GM Curtis Toneff said, “The opportunity is there for someone. We don’t have a captain. It’s kinda by design. As a younger coach, you get excited to do those things, now definitely sitting back and evaluating and seeing who steps up.” Comox Valley’s first game will be on the road on Saturday in Nanaimo.

Darryl Skender

Several Glacier Kings Still On Junior ‘A’ Tryouts

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The Comox Valley Glacier Kings still are awaiting to see what their final roster is going to look like. They have a number of players that are still not with the club as they continue to either tryout for other Junior ‘A’ teams or have committed to other teams in BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and down in the USA.

This last off-season, LW Rolan Amin committed to the Humboldt Broncos of the SJHL. Amin averaged over a point a game with the Glacier Kings last season amassing 10 goals and 22 assists in just 28 games. For Humboldt this pre-season, he has a goal in his 2 games that he’s suited up for.

Sheldon Alexander is still with the Humboldt Broncos as well. In fact, he was playing on the same line as Rolan Amin. Alexander had 12 goals and 31 points in 43 games last season which was split between the Glacier Kings and the Campbell River Storm. He has been held pointless in 3 pre-season games with Humboldt.

Ryan Harris has committed to the Neepawa Titans of the MJHL. Harris was tied for the team lead in goals last season with 13. He hasn’t played a pre-season game with the Titans yet. Neepawa hasn’t been able to play at home yet as their ice wasn’t ready until September 5th. The Titans had played one road pre-season game at the time of this post.

Defenceman Gavin Mowat is in the same situation as Sheldon Alexander as he is battling for a Junior ‘A’ job. Mowat has played for 3 teams in the VIJHL including Peninsula, Campbell River and Comox Valley. The 6’0″ 171 pound rearguard had 8 points in 26 games for the Yeti last season and tallied an assist in his only pre-season game this year.

Defenceman Kyle Mayenburg is in a battle for a roster spot with the Powell River Kings. Powell River has not played yet but their pre-season does start Saturday. The 6’1″ 175lb. blueliner collected 2 goals and 9 assists in 33 games last season.

Another big blow to the defensive corps is Dylan Lamberto who has left to play in the NCDC for the Northern Cyclones. For those not familiar with the NCDC, it is the National Collegiate Development Conference which is the top-level, tuition-free junior hockey league within the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The Northern Cyclones play in Hudson, New Hampshire. You might remember that Comox Valley was desperate for a defenceman at the trade deadline last season and traded goaltender Aaron Pichette to get him. The 6’3″ 200 pounder only ended up playing 4 games in a Glacier Kings uniform.

Darryl Skender

Darryl Skender – Former Play by Play Broadcaster of the Comox Valley Glacier Kings