Tag Archives: Matt Parnell

Controversial Ending Extends GKings Losing Streak

Leave a comment

The Comox Valley Glacier Kings got off to a quick start but couldn’t hold on as they dropped a 4-3 decision to the Oceanside Generals on Friday. The game was action packed with plenty of chances both ways but the GKings will start the season 0-1-1 at home.

The first period was a little slow at times in the first half of the period but there was a ton of action in the last half. About 11 minutes in, goaltender Anthony Ganoung was tested with 2 close in shots. The first by Sloan Kroeker and then the rebound by Max Boyle. About 3 minutes later, a huge chance for Comox when Ethan Gobel stole the puck at the left side faceoff circle and turned around and gave Leon Mikhalchuk a perfect cross ice pass. Mikhalchuk had a wide open net but partially fanned on it and shot wide. Then a few minutes after that, Zaya Morro was sent in on a breakaway by Landen May but was robbed by Ethan Suhr and 10 seconds later, Morro would have another chance from the edge of the crease but was stoned again. Gobel picked up the rebound but hit the post. The game was scoreless after the first period.

Early in the 2nd period and with time running out on the Glacier Kings power play, Cameron Collins had a terrific chance on a wrap-around but couldn’t bury it. With the puck loose in the crease, Maxim Lefebvre poked at it but Suhr was there to make the save. The first goal of the game would be on a power play… yes you heard that right a power play. Ethan Gobel won the faceoff back to the point to Tommy Scobie-Gyug who slipped the puck up to Leon Mikhalchuk. He quickly fed it across the ice to a wide-open Suhaan Nagra who walked into the faceoff dot and wristed the puck past Suhr. Cohen Kalin got an assist but it clearly should have gone to Scobie-Gyug. Comox went up by 2, again on the PP, when Ethan Gobel dug the puck out of skates behind the Oceanside net and passed back to the faceoff dot to Leon Mikhalchuk who made no mistake wristing it short side past Ethan Suhr. That lead would be cut in half just 1 minute later. Sloan Kroeker gave a ‘point to point’ pass to Braeyen Newans who took a hard wrist shot that was deflected in front by Jacob Leamy and the Gens were on the board. They weren’t done there. Oceanside would tie the game late in the 2nd stanza when Westin Churchill lost control of the puck inside his own blue line. Jacoby Leamy fished it out along the boards and passed it through the slot to Ryken Lay who one-timed it past Ganoung with just 1:10 remaining. 

In the 3rd period, both teams were 4 on 4 fairly early. Hunter Toth took a pass at his own blue line and skated up the right side, beat the defenceman and then got the puck past Anthony Ganoung from the circle. It may have hit a skate in front before entering the net. The Generals led 3-2. However the Yeti PP would come through again. It started with a great play by Kyle Mayenburg to keep the puck in at the blue line. He passed across to Cameron Collins who gave it right back to Mayenburg. The big defenceman took the shot which was stopped by Suhr but a big rebound came to Westin Churchill who potted it home. Again, the Gens would take the lead. They ended up with a rare short-handed 2-man breakaway goal. Jackson Bostock slid the puck over to Ryken Lay for his second goal of the game. Late in the 3rd period, the GKings appeared to tie the game with their goalie pulled. Generals d-man Levi Green appeared to push Ethan Gobel into the Oceanside goaltender. The referee was standing right beside the play and did not call goaltender interference which would mean that Gobel was pushed in. A few seconds later Suhaan Nagra tipped a shot past the netminder who was still down. The referee immediately waved the goal off. The ref then marked the ensuing faceoff outside the blue line which would depict Gobel initiating the contact. I’ve looked at the replay several times. Gobel definitely got pushed but the question is if he embellished that shove to make contact with the goalie.

Comox Valley outshot Oceanside 44-29 including 17-6 in the 3rd period but couldn’t pull it out. The Yeti drop to 0-3-1 while Generals improve to 2-3-0. The Glacier Kings are right back in action tomorrow night in Kerry Park while the Gens is off until week from tomorrow when they host Lake Cowichan.

Other Observations

  • This is the first time this season the Glacier Kings have scored first and also the first time that they have had a lead at any point in a game.
  • The first PP goal for Comox Valley broke a 0 for 14 streak.
  • Their 2nd PP goal took just 6 seconds (see what happens when they win faceoffs).
  • Kudos to Comox Valley Play by Play broadcaster Matt Parnell for picking 3 Stars fairly. It doesn’t happen much in this league. Clay Cochrane for Saanich is very fair as well.
  • Oceanside has not scored on their last 23 PP opportunities.
  • This is the Glacier Kings worst start to a season since 2019 when they were 0-12 before recording a victory.
  • Ryken Lay now has 5 goals which is tied for 3rd in the league (at the time of this post)
  • Despite a good start on Friday, Comox still just has one 1st period goal in their 4 games.
  • Westin Churchill has goals in back to back games.
  • Jacob Leamy has points in 3 straight games and 4 of his last 5 including his time with Saanich.

Darryl Skender

Game 4 Preview Vs. Gens

Leave a comment

The Comox Valley Glacier Kings will make another attempt tonight to get their first win of the season. They’ve started 0-2-1 after a 3-2 OT loss in their home opener to Campbell River on Saturday. It’s the first time they haven’t recorded a win in their first 3 games since 2019 when they started the season 0-12.

Things have been trending upwards from game to game for the GKings. A big reason is because of their recent acquisitions. Head coach & GM Curtis Toneff talked about how they are settling in, “Real well, I think this week of practices has really helped. They are starting to fit in. They are all quite different players and they all compliment our team in different ways. Leon Mikhalchuk has the big shot, a long reach, puck protection skills and has an ability to beat guys one on one which is pretty rare at any level. Geon Park has a good low base to him, he has a good shot, plays with his head up, likes the puck on his stick and likes to make plays. He can fit anywhere in the line up on any given night. Tommy Scobie-Gyug had a real good weekend. He’s obviously had a great summer as far as his training. His conditioning is elite. He found himself with his first goal after a great shake of a d-man at the point, had a great shot and got his first junior goal in his second game. He’s going to make our D better and Anthony Ganoung obviously had a great game on Friday.” Scobie Gyug took a big hit on Saturday and hit the ice pretty hard. The book on him has always been he plays bigger than he is and he has definitely shown that so far. He’s listed at just 5’7″ and 155 pounds but has been a big pickup for his squad.

Both teams have struggled to find wins to start the season. The Generals have been scoring at a higher rate but also giving up more goals than the Glacier Kings. Toneff said the simple things can give his club their first win, “We need to be making plays when they’re there with the puck, being a hockey player not a robot. If there’s not a play there, play a man’s game, whether it’s having a battle in the corner, or protecting the puck or simply seeing the other D’s number turning to go get pucks all night. That’s kind of the difference where these guys come from in Midget. Certain plays they’re taught are bad plays. Buying into simplicity, you can always build on simple but when you try and do too much it’s tough to get on the same page.” 

Meanwhile for the Oceanside Generals, they’ve had an up and down start to their season. Play by Play broadcaster Kyle Ireland said he was impressed with the season opener against Campbell River where they downed the Storm 5-2. He said there is a youngster on the team that has impressed him, “Braeyen Newans, a 17 year old Parksville product has been a huge bright spot for them with 4 points in his first 4 games. Goals in back to back.” A cool story about Newans is that he scored his first VIJHL goal last Saturday on his 17th birthday. The 4-time VIJHL Broadcaster of the Year also let us in on a recent trade yesterday, “The Gens have made a huge move just minutes ago sending forward Jasper Fellbaum to Westshore for forward Jacob Leamy.” Fellbaum had a goal and an assist in 2 games for the Generals while Leamy potted 1 goal and 2 assists for the Wolves before the trade. Ireland said he thought his club played well against Victoria 5 days ago but special teams hurt them, “The Gens looked good on Sunday at moments against the Cougars but could not get anything going on the power play going 0 for 6.” Oceanside and Comox Valley are currently sporting the worst 2 PP’s in the league. The Generals are at 4.3% (1 for 23) and the Glacier Kings are 5.9% (1 for 17).

Oceanside comes into the game on a three game losing streak. although they deserved a better fate against Port Alberni where they outshot the Bombers 45-24 but lost 4-2 thanks to an empty net goal at the end by Joel Dorn. The same could be said about their 5-3 loss to the Westshore Wolves where the Gens jumped out to a 3-1 lead midway through the game but allowed 4 unanswered goals including another empty netter.

Game time tonight is at 6:30 pm at the Sports Centre. Either Rob Hudson or Matt Parnell will have the play by play on FloHockey (Matt has a new baby on board, congratulations!) while Kyle Ireland will do the honors on the radio at 88.5 The Beach. Go Glacier Kings!

Darryl Skender