The Port Alberni Bombers continued their winning ways with a 5-0 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) victory over Nanaimo Buccaneers on Thursday night in Nanaimo.
The result propels the Bombers into first place in the VIJHL’s North Division. Port Alberni leads the second place Campbell River Storm by one point, however the Storm have one game in hand. The Bombers have one game remaining in the regular season, while the Storm have two contests left to play.
A three-goal first period would be all the Bombers would need on this night – Sean Richards scoring two goals and Kash Nicklin scoring his first of the night to give Port Alberni a 3-0 lead after twenty minutes.
Single goals in each of the next two frames, the first by McCall Nault in the second period and Kash Nicklin’s second of the contest in the third frame were more than enough for the victory over a Nanaimo team that will finish just outside the playoffs.
Damien Knackstedt picked up his second shutout of the season, stopping all 21 shots Nanaimo sent his way. Knackstedt’s shutout was the team’s fifth whitewash of the season, second only to Comox Valley’s six clean sheets.
Leim Smith added two assists on the evening, while Nault, Solstice Tennant, Owen Ditzel, Nathan Hayes and Zach Spafford added single helpers.
The Bombers power play was 1-for-five on the night, while the Buccaneers were 0-for-1 with the man advantage.
Port Alberni concludes their regular season on Friday night when they travel to Lake Cowichan to take on the Kraken in a 7:30 pm start.
Bombers Get Win to Move Into First Place
