A pair of four-point performances by Zachary Ahola and Derick Smith was not enough to help the Comox Valley Glacier Kings defeat the Westshore Wolves.
In Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League action Dec. 7 at the Q-Centre in Colwood, Ahola earned third star honours for his three goals and one assist while Derick Smith celebrated his return to the Yetis’ lineup with a goal and three helpers.
But it was all for naught as the Wolves won 5-4.
The G-Kings led briefly as Smith (just back from a 12-game stint with the Jr. A Trail Smoke Eaters) opened the scoring at 1:40 of the first period. That seemed to stir the Wolves into action, as they rattled off four unanswered goals.
First star Cameron Couture pulled the home team even at 3:03 of the first, then three goals in the first five and a half minutes of the second stanza sent Comox Valley goalie Zak Myrowich to the bench in favour of Marcus Gloss.
Ahola made it 4-2 at 14:44 of the second and cut the lead to one at 16:09 of the third. But the comeback was cut short by Brandon Tutte who zinged the strings at 19:20 to put Westshore up 5-3. Ahola completed his hat trick with just one second left in the game.
The Wolves out-shot the Icemen 35-30 in a game that had only four minor penalties. Westshore went 1-for-3 on the power play while the G-Kings were 0-for-1.
Comox Valley (16-11-0-2) remains in second place in the North Division but are glancing over their shoulder at the third-place Nanaimo Buccaneers (16-12-0-0) who are just two points back with a game in hand.
The Yetis return to action Saturday, Dec. 10 when they host the Kerry Park Islanders in a 7:30 p.m. start at Comox Valley Sports Centre Arena #1. On Sunday, Dec. 11 they hit the road for a matinee match with the Oceanside Generals.
ICE CHIPS In a dozen games with the BCHL Smoke Eaters Smith registered one assist; in 14 games with the Yetis he has 13 goals and 21 assists and is second in team scoring behind Finn Withey (15g, 22a in 28 games) … Withey is fourth in league scoring …