The Port Alberni Bombers dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to Nanaimo Buccaneers on Sunday night in Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) action in Port Alberni.
Trailing 1-0 after one period and 2-1 after forty minutes, the Bombers fell further behind at 3-1, six-and-a-half minutes into the third frame, but rebounded from there – Ethan Unger potting his third goal of the 2025-26 campaign, and then Chase Pouchnik scoring on the power play with just under two minutes remaining to send the game to overtime.
In overtime, former-Bomber Kai Verbrugge broke the hearts of most of the 366 in attendance, scoring at 3:16 of the extra frame.
McCall Nault scored the first Bomber goal, his ninth of the season on a second period power play.
The Bombers were 2-for-4 with the man advantage, while the visitors were 0-for-7. Shots were seventy to twenty-five in favour of the Buccaneers.
Bombers goaltender Ryan Burroughs was named the game’s first star, stopping sixty-six of those seventy shots sent his way.
As an aside – all three VIJHL games on Sunday night went to overtime, and all three ended with 4-3 scores. Oceanside Generals defeated Victoria Cougars and Saanich Predators bested Lake Cowichan Kraken in the other contests.
The Bombers return to action on Wednesday night when they host Comox Valley Glacier Kings at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. Opening face-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
Bombers lose in Overtime
