They say a tie is like kissing your sister.
There was no mistletoe at the Comox Valley Sports Centre in Courtenay on Monday night, but there was a rare Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League tie as the Comox Valley Glacier Kings and Oceanside Generals skated to a 3-3 standoff.
The game was close all the way, with the score 1-1 after one period and 3-3 after two. Goaltending was superb at both ends of the rink, with Comox Valley out-shooting Oceanside 37-29.
Marcus Gloss patrolled the pipes for the G-Kings while VIJHL Player of the Week Tanner Douglas was in net for the visitors, who could not convert a penalty shot late in the first overtime period.
Matteo Giomo, first star Derick Smith and Marcelo Pericao scored for the Yetis with Owen McDonald, Max Creighton and third star Brandon Roberge replying for the Generals. Second star Jake McKenzie tallied two assists for the Icemen.
The Generals opened the scoring at 18:22 of the first on McDonald’s power-play goal. It took the Glacier Kings just 31 seconds to get that one back as McKenzie set up Giomo for his 14th of the year at the 18:53 mark.
Smith’s 14th of the season from McKenzie at 2:50 of the second stanza gave the Yetis their only lead of the game. Creighton pulled the Generals even at 7:22 and Roberge made it 3-2 at 12:42. Pericao’s sixth of the year from Caleb Dolman and Finn Withey with 1:15 left in the period knotted the count.
Comox Valley out-shot Oceanside 8-4 in the third period and 6-4 in OT but could not put the puck past Douglas.
The G-Kings now break for the holidays. They return to action Jan. 3 when they host the Saanich Braves. They visit the Nanaimo Buccaneers on Jan. 5 then welcome the Campbell River Storm to town on Jan. 7.
ICE CHIPS The Glacier Kings (17-12-1-2) are third in the North Division, one point back of second place Nanaimo … the Dec. 19 tie was just the sixth of the season in the league and first in the North Division … Withey leads the G-Kings offence with 41 points (16g, 25a), which puts him fourth in league scoring … Navy football coach Eddie Erdelatz is credited with saying “A tie is like kissing your sister” after a scoreless tie against Duke in 1953 …