It's a two-horse race for top spot in the VIJHL North Division, and the Comox Valley Glacier Kings have ridden a four-game winning streak into the lead.
A decisive 10-4 victory Feb. 10 over the Campbell River Storm moved the Yetis past C.R. into top spot, and both teams are heading into the home stretch with two regular season games left to play.
The Glacier Kings (29-14-1-2) are one point up on the Storm (28-14-2-2) and finish their RS with a home-and-away series with the Nanaimo Buccaneers. The Yetis are in Nanaimo on Thursday (Feb. 13) and host the Bucs on Saturday, Feb. 15 in a 7:30 p.m. start at Comox Valley Sports Centre Arena #1.
The Storm wrap up their RS Feb. 14 at home to Victoria Cougars and Feb. 15 at Oceanside Generals. At press time, the VIJHL playoff schedule had not been announced.
On Feb. 10 at Rod Brind'Amour Arena, the G-Kings got five-point performances from third star Duncan Pernal (3g, 2a) and Ali Gotmy (5a) in their big four-point tilt with the Storm.
First star Nick Govig added a pair of goals with Dallas Maxwell, Eric Margo, Jonas Horvath, Jordan Crisp and second star Derian Hamilton netting one each.
Campbell River out-shot Campbell River 57-34, with Michael Hails once again outstanding between the pipes for the Yetis.
The visitors chased C.R. starting goalie Russell Sanderson by the 8:26 mark of the first period as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Jack Surgenor stopped 18-of-25 shots the rest of the way.
Comox Valley led 4-1 after one period and 8-1 after two while going 2-for-7 on the power play.
On Feb. 6 the Yetis knocked off South Division leading and defending league champion Victoria 2-1 at the Archie Browning Sports Centre. Hails was the hero, kicking out 41 shots.
After a scoreless first period in which Victoria out-shot Comox Valley 16-7, Jordan Kamprath put the G-Kings on the scoreboard at 8:23 of the second stanza.
Victoria pulled even on Sam McMullen's power play goal early in the third, but could not beat Hails in overtime.
Wil Finlay's unassisted goal nine seconds into the second OT period was the winner. Hails was first star, McMullen second star and Margo was third star.
The win snapped the Cougars' seven-game win streak and gave the Icemen three wins in their four games against the Capital City Cats this season.
ICE CHIPS The top eight teams in points qualify for post-season play … in the South, S1 vs. S4 and S2 vs. S3 while in the North, N1 will play either N4 or S5 (should S5 finish with more points), while N2 vs. N3 in the other series … after the first round, the remaining four teams will be reseeded for the balance of the playoffs, with seeds determined by regular season final points … all series are best-of-seven, with the highest placed team having home-ice advantage …