The Oceanside Generals continue to be a major nuisance for the Comox Valley Glacier Kings.
The Generals have won only 10 games this season and are buried in the basement of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s North Division. But four of those victories have come at the expense of the Glacier Kings – including the latest, a 6-5 win in double overtime Jan. 15 in Parksville.
The Yetis trailed 5-3 early in the third but battled back on Dylan Paavola’s power-play goal at 11:02 followed by Matteo Giomo’s equalizer at 15:21.
The Icemen out-shot Oceanside 12-2 in overtime, only to have Bekkam Willis net the winner with 48 seconds left in the second OT session. It was Willis’ second goal of the game and earned him first star honours, although goalie Tanner Douglas deserved honourable mention as the G-Kings finished with a 45-28 SOG advantage.
Comox Valley’s other goals came from Marcelo Pericao, Zachary Ahola and Derick Smith. Chipping in with two assists each were Giomo, Ahola, Jake McKenzie and Drew Van Den Bosch. The teams were tied 2-2 after one period with the Generals up 4-3 after two.
Zak Myrowich took the loss. Myrowich was filling in for Marcus Gloss, who suffered a lower body injury in a Jan. 7 game and is out for an undetermined time.
Myrowich left Sunday’s game in the first period with an upper body injury and was replaced by Comox Valley Midget Chiefs’ netminder Keegan Rivett.
“Rivett stole the show,” a G-Kings’ spokesperson said. “He played 34 minutes and 12 seconds … and almost made it through double overtime.”
The Sunday matinee loss came just hours after the G-Kings had posted their first win of 2017, a 5-2 decision Saturday night over the Generals in Courtenay. It was the Yetis spoiling a comeback bid in this one. They led 2-0 early in the first only to have the visitors pull even on a pair of power-play goals.
First star Liam Nijhoff’s second goal of the game at 11:57 of the third period put the G-Kings back in front, Smith made it 4-2 at 18:40 and Simon Faber’s empty-netter at 19:27 sealed the deal. Comox Valley out-shot Oceanside 36-30 with Myrowich named second star. Third star McKenzie had one goal and one assist.
The Yetis return to action this weekend as they visit the Campbell River Storm on Friday then host the Westshore Wolves on Saturday in a 7:30 p.m. start at Comox Valley Sports Centre Arena #1.
ICE CHIPS Smith has moved into fifth place in league scoring with 43 points (17g, 26a) while fellow rookie teammates Finn Withey (16g, 25a) and Ahola (15g, 26a) are sixth and seventh, respectively … MacKenzie (17g, 22a) is the fourth Yeti in the top 10 … the Icemen (18-14-1-4) remain third in the North Division and are now five points back of second-place Nanaimo Buccaneers (23-13-0-0) who have won four in a row …