Bombers Prey on Cougars

The Port Alberni Bombers picked up their second Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League victory of the weekend, recording a 4-2 win over Victoria Cougars on Sunday afternoon in Esquimalt.
The Bombers followed virtually the same formula from Saturday in securing Sunday’s victory – scoring two power play goals and adding an empty netter late in the contest.
The only difference was how they won. On Saturday, against Nanaimo, the Bombers never trailed. But on Sunday the locals had to come from behind after the Cougars had scored early in the third frame to take a 2-1 lead. Three unanswered goals, including the empty netter at the buzzer allowed the Bombers to escape with the win.
Kash Nicklin and Sean Richards scored the power play goals, while Daniel Betcher and Leim Smith scored the others. Smith and Richards also added assists, while Luke Ridgway contributed heavily with three helpers. Tom Forrest was the goaltender of record, stopping 30 of 32 shots.
The Bombers somewhat-maligned, but consistently improving power-play, had a solid weekend, going 2-for-6 in consecutive games, a rate (33 per cent) that any team, at any level, would be thrilled to achieve.
The Bombers will have a relatively light schedule over the next little while – playing two games over the next 10 days. Both of those contests will be on Wednesday night, and both will be at home. This Wednesday they will welcome Nanaimo Buccaneers back to the Alberni Valley Multiplex, before entertaining Campbell River Storm in a top of the table clash on Wednesday, November 6. Both games are slated for a 7:00 pm puck drop.