You can never have too much of a good thing. That includes a three-goal lead.
Wednesday night in Campbell River, the Comox Valley Glacier Kings built a 3-0 lead by the mid-way mark of the second period but couldn't hold on, losing 4-3 in double overtime to the Storm.
The win gives the Storm a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League semifinal playoff series. Now on the brink of elimination, the Yetis return to Campbell River for Game 5 on – ominously enough – Friday the 13th.
The G-Kings opened the scoring on March 11 with second star Derian Hamilton rippling the mesh at 18:01 on the power play.
Colton St. John made it 2-0 at 5:33 of the second, then set up Grant Iles for the Yetis' third goal at 13:36. Cue Josiah Friesen, who single-handedly ruined the Glacier Kings' hopes of tying the series.
All Friesen did was score four straight goals. He pulled his team to within one with tallies at 13:44 and 18:42 of the second, then evened the count at 3-3 with a power-play marker just 37 seconds into the third period.
After a scoreless, 10-minute overtime period, Friesen clinched his first star award by netting the winner, unassisted, at 1:41 of the second OT session.
The Storm outshot the Glacier Kings 42-29 with Riley Welyk picking up the win in relief of starting netminder Jesse Michel, who left with the score 2-0. Zahcary Straza took the loss. Both teams were 1-for-5 with the man advantage.
Should the Icemen win Game 5, they would host Game 6 on March 14 with game time 7:30 p.m. at Comox Valley Sports Centre Arena #1. If needed Game 7 would go March 15 in Campbell River.
The winner of this North Division final will meet South Division playoff winner and defending VIJHL champion Victoria Cougars in the best-of-seven playoff final.
ICE CHIPS The Cougars have yet to lose in post-season play this year … Friesen is leading the playoff goal scoring with 11 … St. John leads the Yetis in playoff scoring with 10 points (2g, 8a) and is ninth overall ...