Bombers Edge Islanders in Saturday Night Tilt

The Port Alberni Bombers defeated Kerry Park Islanders 3-2 in Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) action on Saturday night in Mill Bay.
The Bombers started quickly as Makhi Wandler scored eighteen seconds into the contest and it looked as though the Bombers might be in for a romp against an Islander team that has yet to record a point in the standings.
But while the Bombers continued to press, outshooting their host in every period, they couldn’t pull away.
Kash Nicklin scored just over midway through the first frame to give the Bombers a 2-0 lead, only to have the Islanders strike back on a Wade Enger goal as the first period ended 2-1 in favour of the visitors.
The second frame saw Chase Pouchnik score his first VIJHL goal to put the Bombers up by two goals at 3-1, but again, the Islanders came back, this time on a goal by Liam Downie, with what would prove to be the final tally of the evening.
Although the Bombers outshot Kerry Park 19-2 in the final period (46-22 overall), they could not add to their lead, and the Islanders came close to tying the contest near the end of regulation time.
The Bombers were 0-for-4 on the night on the power play, while the Islanders were 1-for-1 with the man advantage.
Nicklin added an assist to go along with his goal, while Joel Dorn added two assists. Newcomer Kaeden Morosoff and Malik Oliva also added helpers.
The Bombers return to action on Friday when they host defending VIJHL champion Peninsula Panthers at the Alberni Valley Multiplex in a 7:00 pm start, and travel to Courtenay to meet the Comox Valley Glacier Kings on Saturday night.