For the first time this season, the Comox Valley Glacier Kings have a winning streak. This is thanks to a 4-3 win over the Peninsula Panthers on Sunday. I have done a lot of writing about how big this past weekend was going to be and how we would find out a lot about this squad. After losing in Campbell River on Friday, they played at home to Nanaimo, who at the time was in first place in the North, and beat the Bucs, then played the only undefeated team in the VIJHL in the Panthers and came out victorious. Three games in three days is never easy but I think we can all say that this was a very successful weekend.

The scoring got started early when Leon Mikhalchuk got a loose puck behind the net and centered a pass in front to Declan Johannesen who wristed it past a sprawling Matus Volovar. Just one minute later things could have turned when 5th year forward Ethan Lingard went in on a breakaway but was denied by Ganoung. The period ended 1-0. Shots were 12 apiece.

The lead however would be short-lived in the second period. The Panthers had sustained pressure in the offensive zone and that pressure paid off when Jacob Eddy took a slap shot from the point that was deflected perfectly by Alex Sajan past the goaltender. Then exactly one minute later Peninsula took a 2-1 lead from a faceoff win. Lingard walked right between 2 defenders but was denied by Ganoung. However the rebound at the top of the crease was put home by Oskar Aitken-Salmons. That was it for the scoring in the second. Shots were 9-8 in favor of the home side.

An incident late in that second period happend when Leon Mikhalchuk stole the puck in the slot and was robbed by Volovar but then was subsequently sticked in between his legs by the goaltender. Neither referee saw it while Mikalchuk stayed down on the ice in pain. Play continued down to the other end of the arena as the Glacier Kings bench erupted. The whistle was finally blown with Peninsula in control of the puck inside the Comox blue line. All 4 officials got together and ruled a 4-minute spearing penalty.

The third period was a bit crazy but a lot of fun to watch. With a little over a minute left in the double-minor, Ethan Gobel gave Cameron Collins a perfect pass in front to tie the game at two. The officials had to gather again to make sure the puck had crossed the goal line. Then the Glacier Kings took the lead just a couple shifts later. Ethan Gobel won the offensive zone faceoff back to Mikhalchuk who one-timed a wrist shot from the top of the circle past Volovar. The GKings would eventually make it 4-2 later in that final frame. The play started with a 2-man breakaway where Cohen Kallin slid it over to Zaya Morro who was absolutely robbed by Volovar. The rebound came out in front and Landon Morris put it into the empty net while being hooked down to the ice. The Panthers wouldn’t go away quietly however. With their goalie pulled, Joe Marranzino took a shot from the blue line and Ganoung left a big rebound that Carson Harris put into an open net to make it a one goal game again. That’s how this contest would finish.

The win gives the Glacier Kings a 3-4-1 record as they moved 1 point ahead of the Oceanside Generals. Their next game is Friday night in Campbell River. The loss for Peninsula was their first of the season (6-1-0). They also play on Friday when it’s the battle of the top 2 teams in the VIJHL. The first place Westshore Wolves, who are led by former Glacier Kings coach Mike Nesbitt, will be at the Panorama Recreation.

Other Observations

• This marks the first time this year that Comox is not in the basement in the North Division.
• The Glacier Kings have been off to slow starts this year so scoring just 1:29 into the game was very refreshing. They also scored 1:17 into the 3rd period.
• Declan Johannesen now has goals in 3 of his last 4 games.
• This was the first time this season that the GKings have won a game when trailing after 2 periods.
• Anthony Ganoung’s start made him the first Comox goalie to play in back to back games this season.
• Panthers forward Oskar Aitken-Salmons’ goal gives him 9 already which is tied for the league lead. He has 3 multiple goal games already through 7 games.
• Aitken-Salmons teammate Carson Harris also has 9 goals. Interesting stat is he has 9 goals and 0 assists. Cy Young candidate? (For you baseball fans.) In all seriousness, he has scored at least 1 goal in 6 of his 7 games.
• I liked the camera work in Peninsula. They would zoom in quite often on the play when it required it. Most teams just leave the play zoomed out when things are exciting or important events are happening.
• Ethan Gobel has 5 assists in his last 2 games.
• The Yeti scored 2 goals in 1:02 to go from being behind to going ahead in the 3rd period.
• Comox now has at least 1 power play goal in 5 consecutive games.
• Cameron Collins has at least a point in 4 of the 5 games he’s played in this season.
• The GKings took just 1 penalty in the entire game (a tripping call in the 3rd period).
• Zaya Morro has a 4-game point streak (3G, 4A)
• Next Friday will already mark the 3rd time in 9 overall games that Comox Valley and Campbell River will play each other.

Darryl Skender