The Port Alberni Bombers improved their record to three wins in three games with an impressive 6-3 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League victory over Campbell River Storm on Friday night in the North Island city.
After a scoreless first period, the Bombers struck first when Zach Spafford scored his first of the season on the power play, only to have the Storm strike back with two of their own to take a 2-1 lead. But the Bombers rebounded when Kash Nicklin scored his first of the campaign, and then Jack Barrett, with his first as well, scored late in the second period to give the Bombers a 3-2 lead, a lead they never relinquished.
The proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back” came early in the third period when Leim Smith was the recipient of a bouncing puck that had been dumped into the Storm end, rebounding of the end board, stumbling, bumbling and rumbling over Storm net minder Kaeden Serpa’s stick, finally finding Smith parked alone in front of the net for an easy tap-in.
Adding insult to injury, the Bombers went on a power play shortly thereafter and Smith scored again to give his team a 5-2 lead. After the Storm scored to give themselves some hope, the Bombers, as they had all night, dashed those hopes when Sean Richards scored into an empty net to preserve the win.
Tom Forrest, starting his first game between the pipes for the Bombers recorded the victory, stopping 35 of the 38 shots he faced, including some key saves early in the contest.
The Bombers put their unbeaten record on the line on Saturday night when they play at the Alberni Valley Multiplex for the first time this season. Their opponent will be Lake Cowichan Kraken with opening face-off slated for 7:00 pm.
Bombers Quell Storm to Remain Undefeated
