Tag Archives: Declan Johannesen

Glacier Kings Lose In A Shootout

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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

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

Yeti Win 2nd Straight To Finish Month

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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