Bombers Defeat Buccaneers – Move Into First Place

In a Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) game that had momentum swings in both directions, the Port Alberni Bombers defeated the Nanaimo Buccaneers 6-5 on Saturday afternoon in Port Alberni. The win moved the Bombers into first-place in the VIJHL’s North Division, one point ahead of Campbell River Storm.
A crowd of 430 at the Alberni Valley Multiplex saw the Bombers jump into a quick lead, scoring three goals in two minutes and eleven seconds, before the game was six minutes old. Kash Nicklin, Jaxon Hinchey and Makhi Wandler were the marksmen, staking the hosts to a 3-0 lead, but the Buccaneers responded with a power play goal by Jack Barrett to make the score 3-1 after twenty minutes of play.
The Bombers controlled the first half of the first frame, with the guests gaining control of the second half of the period.
Nanaimo continued their strong play to begin the second frame, getting a goal from Rhys Wilcox to get within one goal, but Bomber captain Nicklin took matters into his own hands, scoring his second and third goals of the game in less than two minutes to put the Bombers up 5-2. A late Nanaimo goal by Lukas Needham made the score 5-3 Bombers after forty minutes.
Malik Oliva extended the Bomber lead to 6-3, scoring on the power play, but with the Bombers on another man advantage, the visitors got a shorthanded goal to get close at 6-4, and than another with less than two minutes remaining to get within one at 6-5, but it was too little, too late as the Bombers held on for the win.
Koen Gauthier and Zach Spafford scored the third period goals for the Buccaneers.
Joel Dorn and Troy Zajac had two assists for the Bombers, while McCall Nault, Mason Smith and Kaeden Morosoff added single helpers. Joe Naccarato, who got the win in the Bombers goal, stopping 46 of 51 shots, also had a good offensive game, adding three assists.
The Bombers return to action on Friday when they host Oceanside Generals at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. The next night they travel to Mill Bay and a meeting with Kerry Park Islanders. Friday’s game begins at 7:00 pm at the Multiplex.