The Port Alberni Bombers defeated Oceanside Generals 4-1 on Sunday afternoon in Parksville, picking up their second Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League win of the weekend in the process.
Owen Ditzel got things started for the Bombers, scoring his second of the season only 42 seconds into the contest, with Elliot Kuprash and Zak Green assisting.
The quick goal was not a harbinger of things to come as there was no further scoring until midway through the third frame when Jack Barrett tipped in a point shot by McCall Nault to give the Bombers some breathing room at 2-0 with 9:30 left in regulation time.
Very much like Saturday night, the locals led by two goals late in the game, and, also similar to the previous night, the opponents responded to draw close when Ryken Lay scored for the Generals with their goalie pulled for a sixth attacker.
Just when it looked to be a nail-biting finish, the Bombers scored an even strength goal, and then, in keeping with the theme of the previous night, an empty net goal, to come away with the win. Sean Richards and Kai Verbrugge were the marksmen. Leim Smith picked up an assist on Verbrugge’s goal and Grayson Salmon picked up his second assist of the night on Richard’s tally.
Damien Knackstedt picked up the win in the Bombers goal, stopping 18 of 19 shots, coming within 1:39 of recording a shutout.
The Bombers outshot the Generals 46-19 including 19 shots in the third period alone.
The two consecutive victories marked the first time since late November that the Bombers had accomplished that feat.
The Bombers won’t see action again until Friday, January 24 (nearly two weeks) when they travel to Saanich to face the Predators. They return to the Alberni Valley Multiplex the next night (January 25) when they host Peninsula Panthers in a 7:00 pm start.
Port Alberni was to have hosted Campbell River Storm next Saturday (January 18), but both teams, along with Bombers coach Brad Knight and Storm coach Troy Newans, will have their rosters depleted when 12 Bombers and nine Storm players will be attending the BCHL Showcase in Salmon Arm. That game has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, February 12 at the Multiplex.
Bombers defeat Generals on Sunday Afternoon
