In what they hope was a playoff preview, the Comox Valley Glacier Kings clipped the Nanaimo Buccaneers 3-2 in Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League action Feb. 13 in Courtenay.
While the Yetis have one regular season game remaining, the dates for their first-round playoff dates, a best-of-seven series that gets underway Feb. 23 in Nanaimo, have been released.
On Feb. 13 at the Comox Valley Sports Centre, the Icemen opened a 2-0 lead early in the first frame, only to have the visitors pull even by the 12:48 mark.
Jake McKenzie netted the winner at 13:06 of the second period, earning first star honours for the game. Tyslon Slater and Brandon McReynolds had the other Comox Valley goals. Second star Jake Calverley and Hobin Zinck replied for Nanaimo.
Marcus Gloss was the winning goalie and Alex Orth took the loss. The G-Kings outshot the Bucs 33-28. Nanaimo went 1-for-4 on the power play while Comox Valley was 1-for-6.
The Yetis close out the regular season Feb. 20 at home with a 7:30 p.m. start against the Saanich Braves.
The second season starts three days later with North Island #3 Comox Valley in Nanaimo to face the North Island #2 Bucs. Other games go Feb. 25 in Nanaimo, Feb. 27 in Courtenay and March 1 in Courtenay, and if needed March 3 in Nanaimo, March 5 in Courtenay and March 6 in Nanaimo.
ICE CHIPS The Yetis won six of 10 RS meetings with the Bucs, including four in Nanaimo … details of other VIJHL first-round playoff match-ups were not available at press time …