The Comox Valley Glacier Kings take on one of the new kids on the block in their 2012-13 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League home opener.
The Nanaimo Buccaneers invade the Comox Valley Sports Centre for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop tomorrow (Sept. 8) night. It will be the second game of a home-and-home series for the teams; the Yetis were in Nanaimo for their 2012-13 season opener last night with result unavailable at press time.
The Bucs are one of two new teams in the Island Jr. B league this year. They are in the North Division along with the Glacier Kings, Campbell River Storm and Parksville Generals.
Also on board this season are the Westshore Wolves who are in the South Division along with the Victoria Cougars, Kerry Park Islanders, Peninsula Panthers and Saanich Braves. The Wolves blanked the Islanders 1-0 in Wednesday's 2012-13 VIJHL season opener.
Entering their 20th year in the league, the Glacier Kings are sporting a bit of a new look themselves. Bill Rotheisler has taken over head coach duties and is joined by new assistant coaches Cameron Knox and Mark McNaughton. Returning is assistant coach Tony Wishart for a second year.
The Glacier Kings tuned up for this week's regular season action with a pair of exhibition tilts against the Storm. On Sept. 1 in Courtenay they dropped a 2-1 decision to the visitors and on Sept. 2 they fell 7-6 in overtime up in Campbell River.
ICE CHIPS Comox goalie Michael Herringer, 16, has been re-assigned by the WHL Victoria Royals to the VIJHL Victoria Cougars ... the current VIJHL poll on the league website (vijhl.com) home page asks which team will win the 2012-13 championship ... after 421 votes, the survey said: Victoria 26 per cent, Campbell River 20, Nanaimo 12, Saanich 10, Westshore 10, Oceanisde 7, Comox Valley 6, Peninsula 5 and Kerry Park 4 ...