One of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s keenest rivalries resumes this Saturday, Nov. 26 when the Comox Valley Glacier Kings host the Campbell River Storm in a 7:30 p.m. face-off at Sports Centre Arena #1.
The Storm (20-5-0-0) are first in the North Division, nine points up on the second place Glacier Kings (15-9-0-1). The teams have met three times already this season, and all three games have been close.
The Storm won the first game 2-1 in Campbell River in September, the Yetis won the second game 2-1 in Campbell River in early November, and on Nov. 20 C.R. skated to a 4-2 win on their home ice.
The teams’ geographic proximity to one another is one factor in the rivalry, another is that both teams have players from the other’s hometown.
For example, the Storm have goalie Matt Henwood, d-man Dayton Keith and forward Sheldon Brett (all from Comox) in their lineup while the Icemen have forwards Jake Mckenzie and Brayden McCartney (both from Campbell River) on their roster.
Familiarity doesn’t necessarily breed contempt, but in this case it certainly guarantees intense hockey whenever the two teams face each other.
Saturday’s game will also be the penultimate opportunity to drop off cash or a new toy for Santa’s Workshop and have a chance to win a prize from a treasure chest.