The Port Alberni Bombers dropped a 7-4 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) decision to Campbell River Storm on Friday night in Campbell River.
In a contest they never led, the Bombers fell behind early when the Storm took a 1-0 lead on a Noah Spencer goal at 1:16 of the first period. The Bombers answered back just over two minutes later when Jeremy Gould scored on the power play to tie the contest at 1-1, but two quick markers late in the frame put the Storm ahead to stay at 3-1 after the first twenty minutes.
Quinn Bouchard scored another power play marker for the Bombers early in the second frame, but two more Campbell River goals, both by Dylan Toth extended the Storm lead to 5-2 after two periods.
The Bombers made things interesting in the third period as Bouchard and Gould both scored their second goals of the contest to make the score 5-4 Storm, but that was as close as Port Alberni would get. Two late goals by the Storm, one by Tommaso Konig and the other by Ryder Tanner sent most of the 704 fans at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena home happy.
Shots on goal favoured the Storm 56-54 with both goaltenders, Joseph Naccarato for the Bombers and Matteo Scotto Di Pompeo for the Storm, making a number of spectacular saves in the free-wheeling contest.
Makhi Wandler had three assists for the Bombers, while Tom Marquet had a goal and three assists for the Storm.
After three games on the road to open the season, the Bombers return to the friendly confines of the Alberni Valley Multiplex on Saturday night when they host Nanaimo Buccaneers in their 2025-26 VIJHL home opener. Opening face-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
Bombers Lose to Storm in High-Scoring Affair
