The Port Alberni Bombers kept their Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League, North Division first-place aspirations alive with a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over division-leading Campbell River Storm on Friday night in the north-Island city.
The Bombers now trail the Storm by nine points with seven games remaining in the 2024-25 campaign.
After a scoreless first period, the Bombers took the lead when Leim Smith and then Solstice Tennant scored before the second frame was five minutes old, but three Storm goals, one by Ethan Hill and two by Jan-Felix Faupel in less than two minutes gave the hosts the lead after 40 minutes.
But, cue the comeback, as the Bombers scored three straight third-period markers in less than four minutes to regain the lead at 5-3. Smith with his second of the night, this one on the power play, and Sean Richards and Kai Verbrugge were the goal scorers. Tristan Williams scored for the Storm with one second remaining, but it was too little, too late and the Bombers escaped with the victory.
Smith also added an assist to give him three points on the evening, while Owen Ditzel added two helpers, with Daniel Betcher, Nathan Hayes, Luke Ridgway and Jaxon Hinchey also adding assists.
The Bombers outshot the Storm 38-30 and were 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Storm were 0-for-2 with the man advantage.
Evan Grant was solid in the Bombers net, picking up his fourteenth win of the season.
The Bombers return to the ice on Saturday night when they host Peninsula Panthers at 7:00 pm at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. The locals defeated the Panthers 1-0 the last time they were at the Multiplex, back on January 25.
Bombers Come From Behind Against Storm
