The Port Alberni Bombers continue to hold a one-point lead atop the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s North Division, thanks to a 3-0 victory over Lake Cowichan Kraken on Friday night at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena.
The Bombers regular season came to an end on Friday night, and they now await the outcome of Saturday night’s game between Campbell River Storm and Peninsula Panthers at the Panorama Rec Centre. The Storm kept pace with the Bombers, thanks to a 4-2 victory over Nanaimo Buccaneers on Friday night in Campbell River, and will need a victory over Peninsula to claim the title.
The Bombers road to victory on Friday started with a scoreless first period, but Leim Smith scored what proved to be the winner early in the second frame and then third period goals by Kai Verbrugge and Kenneth Boychuk, into an empty net, sealed the win. Cowyn Loney, Luke Ridgway and Jack Barrett each had one assist on the evening.
The win was the Bombers sixth in a row, and seventh in nine games during the month of February.
Tom Forrest stopped 31 shots in the Bomber goal to record the victory and his second shutout of the season. The Bombers finish the regular season with six shutouts split evenly between Forrest, Evan Grant and Damien Knackstedt, all three attaining two clean sheets.
The Bombers now wait to see who their first round playoff opponent will be. One of two teams – Comox Valley Glacier Kings or Lake Cowichan Kraken will face the Bombers but that determination will be based on the outcome of games the Storm, Glacier Kings and Kraken play on Saturday night. The Bombers will announce their playoff schedule as soon as they know their opponent.
