The Port Alberni Bombers rode the goaltending of Joe Naccarato, some tenacious forechecking, and a solid power play to a 4-2 win over Lake Cowichan Kraken in Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) play on Sunday night at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.
The win keeps the Bombers slim playoff hopes alive as they now sit nine points behind fourth place Campbell River Storm. Both teams have ten games remaining in the 2025-26 VIJHL campaign.
John Shields got things going for the Bombers, scoring his first of the season early in the first period, and then three second-period goals, two on the power play by Malik Oliva, gave the Bombers a 4-0 lead that proved to be more than enough.
The Kraken did make things close, scoring a goal late in each of the second and third frames, but, on this night, it was too little, too late for the Kraken.
Toby Johnson and Nicolas Kalinocka were the Kraken marksmen.
Newly-acquired Ryan Christenson scored the other Bomber goal, his first as a Bomber and sixth of the season overall.
Quinn Bouchard added two assists for the locals, while McCall Nault, Jeremy Gould, Christenson, Ethan Unger and Troy Zajac added single helpers.
The Bombers were 2-for-5 on the power play while the Kraken went 1-for-3 with the man-advantage. Final shot totals were 34-32 in favour of the Kraken.
The Bombers swept the three star awards, Oliva picked up first-star honours, Christenson was third star and Joe Naccarato was second star, having another solid night in the Bomber goal, stopping 32 of 34 shots.
The Bombers continue their quest for a playoff spot next weekend, travelling first to Lake Cowichan on Friday night and returning home Sunday for a contest against the Saanich Predators at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. Sunday’s start time is scheduled for 6:00 pm.
Bombers Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
