Tag Archives: Anthony Ganoung

Comox Valley – Victoria Preview

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The Comox Valley Glacier Kings are coming off disappointing results last weekend accumulating just one out of a possible four points. To be fair they were missing 3 key players due to injuries and a suspension. However it was still a let down after their previous weekend against two of the top teams in the league. The consistency is still a work in progress. Head coach/GM Curtis Toneff said his club didn’t come out of the gates as quickly as he would have liked last Friday and Saturday, “It was kind of the opposite from the weekend before, like our starts. I thought we got better in both games as the they dragged on. It just shows our team that we have to be ready for every shift. We have to be prepared when that puck drops, be ready to compete because we aren’t a team that can throw on a jersey and have success, and there are a couple teams in this league that can do that. We aren’t one of them.” The better starts are key as they aren’t a great ‘come from behind team.’ Their record when trailing after 2 periods is 1-4-1.

But this is a new game tonight. One of the issues for Comox will not just be a better start but they also need to start scoring more goals. It seems to me like they are creating a ton of scoring opportunities but not putting the puck in the back of the net. I asked Toneff about that, “You know what, as for scoring chances, I’m happy, the execution, maybe not so much. I don’t know if we’ll ever be a team that’s going to blow the brakes off another team but the fact that we’re getting the chances is a good sign. We just gotta bear down and put it in the net. Sometimes maybe that’s another pass across the crease or just get a stronger bottom hand on the stick, maybe a little bit of practice habits. There are highs and lows during the season. The weekend before we had no problems scoring goals so hopefully we can get back to that.” To put in perspective, the Glacier Kings are ranked 10th in scoring out of the 11 teams. On the opposite side, the Cougars lead the lead in goals per game averaging an impressive 5.7 tallies per contest.

It was a short practice week this week as the Glacier Kings are in action tonight. Special teams has been part of the focus. I asked Curtis what else they have been working on, “A lot of passing, a little bit of system play, breaking out the puck and a little bit of ‘compete’ as well. As you know, I used to coach the Bucs, they played Thursdays. I love it personally. Four days in a row of practice can get a little bit long. I love how these mid-week games break up the league to be honest with you. And then a day off tomorrow and back it Saturday.” The task that he is talking about on Saturday isn’t a whole lot easier as they will host the Port Alberni Bombers for the first time this season.

The Victoria Cougars are a perfect 2-0 to start October and have won 3 in a row heading into tonight. In their 8 games in September, their results didn’t have any winning or losing streaks… L-W-L-W-L-W-L-W. With that being said, the Yeti have lost both games in October after winning 3 of their last 4 games in September. I asked the GKings bench boss what to expect tonight and what his squad needs to do to be successful, “With any Mike Vandekamp coached team you’re going to get effort, physicality and tough hockey. I feel that we built a roster that should be able to play up to that. Just your classic, simple road hockey game, kind of back to how we were playing Peninsula. That ‘feeling good about yourself’ after every shift in the first ten minutes and just go from there.” The good news is that all 3 players that missed the last game in Westshore should be back in the lineup tonight which includes Haden Parker who was suspended for one game for his 5-minute boarding major against Campbell River.

Comox comes into tonight with a 3-5-2 record which is tied for last place in the North Division with Oceanside who plays in Saanich tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Cougars are 6-3-1 and comfortably sitting in third place in the South. One player I’m looking forward to seeing tonight is Joseph Melichar. The 20 year old is lighting it up this season. He is currently second in the league scoring. The 6’0″ 186 pound forward from the Czech Republic has amassed 11G, 15A in just 10 games. He should be fun to watch. Anthony Ganoung has been named as the GKings starter in between the pipes and deservedly so with the way he has been playing. He is 4th in the VIJHL in save percentage (.924) and 2nd among goaltenders who have played more than 3 games. Puck drop is at 7:00 pm at the Archie Browning Arena. Comox Valley’s official line up for tonight will be posted on the “Gameday Lineups” page of this blog in a few minutes.

Darryl Skender

Glacier Kings Stats So Far

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Goals For: 7-9-9-0= 25 (+1, -4, -2, -2= -7)

Goals Against: 6-13-11-2 = 32

Score First Goal: 2-2-1-0

Allow First Goal: 1-3-1-0

Lead After First Period: 3-0-0-0

Trail After First Period: 0-2-1-0

Tied After First Period: 0-3-1-0

Lead After Second Period: 2-0-0-0

Trail After Second Period: 1-4-1-0

Tied After Second Period: 0-1-1-0

Power Play (Season): 9/51 (17.6% – 9th)

Penalty Kill (Season): 28/33 (84.8% – 2nd)

SHG For (Season): 1 (T-5th)

SHG Against (Season): 1 (T-5th)

Most Goals For (Game): 5 (Sep. 20-25 @ Kerry Park; Sep. 27-25 vs. Nanaimo)

Most Goals Against (Game): 5 (Oct. 4-25 vs. Westshore)

Most Goals For (Period): 3 (Sep. 28 @ Peninsula)

Most Goals Against (Period): 3 (Sep. 6-25 @ Nanaimo; Sep. 26-25 @ Campbell River)

Fewest Goals For (Game): 0 (Sep. 12-25 @ Saanich)

Fewest Goals Allowed (Game): 1 (Sep. 20-25 @ Kerry Park)

Most Shots For (Game): 57 (Sep. 20-25 @ Kerry Park)

Most Shots Against (Game): 54 (Oct. 4-25 vs. Westshore)

Most Shots For (Period): 21 (Oct. 3-25 @ Campbell River)

Most Shots Against (Period): 25 (Oct. 4-25 vs. Westshore)

Fewest Shots For (Game): 23 (Sep. 6-25 @ Nanaimo)

Fewest Shots Against (Game): 19 (Sep. 20-25 @ Kerry Park)

Fewest Shots For (Period): 6 (Sep. 6-25 @ Nanaimo)

Fewest Shots Against (Period): 3 (Sep. 20-25 @ Kerry Park)

Outshoot Opponents: 4 (2-2-0-0)

Outshot By Opponents: 6 (1-3-2-0)

Stars Of The Game Points (3-2-1):

Zaya Morrow 4; Leon Mikhalchuk 4; Suhaan Nagra 3; Westin Churchill 2;

Kyle Mayenburg 2; Anthony Ganoung 2; Cohen Kallin 1 Timothee Fengos 1

Storm Beat Comox In OT Again

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The Campbell River Storm have had the Glacier Kings number this year. They started out strong on Friday and came away with a 2-1 overtime win in what was probably the most entertaining games you’ll see this year. Both goaltenders stole the show as they stopped chance after chance. This was the second time in three meeting that the Storm have won in the extra stanza.

The first period was dominated by Campbell River which was helped out by two power plays. A couple of the highlights for me in that opening frame was when Zaya Morro made a terrific defensive play while shorthanded in the slot to thwart a scoring a chance by Jack Smith. Later,  a bouncing puck went by a Comox defenceman and came right to Colby Driebergen behind everyone where he slid it over to a wide open Tom Marguet but a wonderful save was made by Anthony Ganoung. The game was scoreless after the first. Shots were 20-8 in favor of the Storm.

The Yeti came out much stronger start in the second period with some scoring chances. They would finally get on the scoresheet first with a shorthanded goal. It started with a blocked shot from the Comox line which gave the Glacier Kings a 2 on 1 from inside their own zone. Cohen Kallin carried it all the way down the ice, used Zaya Morro as a decoy, and fired it past Luc Gravel on the blocker side. Comox almost scored 2 more times on that same Storm power play but Gravel was good. An incident in the second happened when Declan Johannesen was hit from behind and shaken up by Bryson Walsh. Because the referee didn’t call a penalty, Leon Mikhalchuk took matters into his own hands and may have fought the wrong man as he took on big Aryx Siefker (who was right in the vicinity of the hit from behind by Walsh). It was a one-sided fight that was won by Siefker. The home team would tie the game a little later on when Holden Smith won a puck battle behind the net and centered it out front to Ryder Tanner who scored up high on Anthony Ganoung. Both goaltenders, especially Ganoung, were outstanding in that middle frame which saw Comox  outshoot Campbell River 21-14.

Early in the third period, there was more rough stuff and it involved Bryson Walsh again when he gave a huge hit to the smaller Kingston Gowans. The Glacier Kings defenceman laid on the ice for a short while before slowly going off the ice. That didn’t go unnoticed. Right after the puck drop following the mandatory timeout, Haden Parker challenged Walsh to a fight in which Parker won decisively.

Despite many chances, there wouldn’t be any scoring in the third period where Comox outshot Campbell River 11-10.

In overtime, Leon Mikhalchuk had a chance to end it when he found himself wide open in front but was stoned by Gravel. Campbell River would eventually end the game on a horrible line by the glacier Kings. That line change gave the Storm a 2 on 1 all the way down the ice where Jack Smith would eventually beat Ganoung to win it and finish a very exciting game.

The loss drops Yeti’s record to 3-4-2 which ties them for last place in the North Division with Oceanside who won on Friday. Next up for Comox is the VIJHL’s best team… the Westshore Wolves. The 2 teams will square off tonight at the Sports Centre. Puck drop is at 6:30. Campbell River (5-4-0) plays in Oceanside tonight.

Other Observations

  • Comox Valley was shorthanded more times in the 1st period than they were in their entire last game.
  • It sounds like a broken record but the Storm won the majority of faceoffs again.
  • The Glacier Kings consecutive games streak with at least 1  PP goal ended at 5 games.
  • It was nice to see Storm defenceman Lucas Beaudoin play in the game after taking a puck to the face in his last game.
  • Zaya Morro extended his point streak to 5 games (3G, 5A).
  • Made me chuckle when I heard the Campbell River broadcaster mention a dental company that was the sponsor for high sticking penalties.
  • The GKings had a 5 on 3 PP for 1:18 in the 2nd period but failed to score.
  • Comox Valley’s shorthanded goal was their first of the season.
  • This was definitely the most physical game of the year that I’ve seen. These 2 teams really don’t like each other.
  • The Storm haven’t scored a PP goal against the Yeti in any of the 3 meetings (0 for 10 overall).
  • Comox Valley native Luc Gravel is now 3-0-0 against his hometown club and 4-1-0 overall for Campbell River.
  • After going pointless in 6 consecutive games, Cohen Kallin now has points in his last 2 contests.
  • Jack Smith’s OT winner gives him 3 goals in his last 5 games.
  • The Glacier Kings now have points in 3 straight games while the Storm have won 3 in a row.

Darryl Skender