Bombers Lose to Cougars in Overtime

Rebounding from a 2-0 first-period deficit, the Port Alberni Bombers came back to take a 3-2 lead over Victoria Cougars late in the third frame, only to see the Cougars score with seventeen seconds remaining and then again in extra time to escape with a 4-3 victory in Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League action on Sunday afternoon at the Archie Browning Arena.
After Jacob Bernardo and Grady Slugget had given the Cougars a 2-0 lead after twenty minutes, the Bombers mounted their comeback. They cut the lead in half when Ethan Unger scored his second goal of the season, joining the rush from his defensive position and depositing a pass from Kash Nicklin past Cougar net minder Jesse Pye. Jeremy Gould tied the contest at 2-2 with less than a minute remaining in the second frame and the score stayed that way until late in the third stanza.
Quinn Bouchard gave the Bombers their first lead of the afternoon when he scored at 16:24, but the Cougars came back when Joseph Melichar scored with their goalie pulled in favour of an extra attacker to tie the contest at 3-3 and send the game to overtime.
The Cougars outshot the Bombers 9-2 in the extra frame as Bomber net minder Xavier Hahn gave his team a chance. But it was not to be as Simon Semancik scored at 6:17, sending most of the 165 fans in attendance home happy.
Both teams were 0-for-2 on the power play, while the Cougars outshot the Bombers 44-28 in the contest.
Nicklin had two assists on the afternoon for the Bombers, while McCall Nault, Jaxon Hinchey and Kaydin Halladay each had one helper. Hahn was named the game’s second star for his efforts in the Bomber goal.
The Bombers have three games in the coming seven days, beginning with a tilt against Campbell River Storm on Wednesday night at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. The locals then travel to Lake Cowichan and a contest against the Kraken on Friday evening, before returning to the Multiplex on Sunday night, and a battle with Oceanside Generals. Opening face off on Wednesday night is scheduled for 7:00 pm at the Bomber Base.