The Port Alberni Bombers completed their 2025-26 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) season, dropping a 5-3 decision to Nanaimo Buccaneers on Thursday night in Nanaimo.
Trailing 2-0 after one period and 4-1 after the second frame, the Bombers scored twice in the final twenty minutes to get close, but it wasn’t enough as the North Division-champion Buccaneers skated to the victory in front of 265 patrons at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
Joel Dorn with two goals, and Jeremy Gould with a single tally were the Bomber marksmen. Former Bombers, Jack Barrett with two goals and Casey Rutland with one marker led the Buccaneers with Dreyton Hayward and Rhys Wilcox scoring the others.
Nanaimo outshot the locals 51-30 on the night with both teams scoring once on the power play.
After finishing in fifth place in the North Division, the Bombers now look ahead to the 2026-27 campaign. Meanwhile, Nanaimo will begin their post-season on Monday when they host an undetermined opponent in the first round.
Bombers Lose Final Game of Season
