The Port Alberni Bombers took a 3-0 lead in their Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League North Division semi-final series with a hard-fought 4-1 victory over Comox Valley Glacier Kings on Sunday night at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.
After a scoreless first period, the Glacier Kings drew first blood in front of the crowd of 402 patrons when former Bomber, Suhaan Nagra, scored on a quality move to deke Bombers’ netminder Evan Grant, converting a pass from Brigham Nye at 9:46 of the second frame.
The lead didn’t last long however, as Bostyn MacDonald scored on a breakaway less than two minutes later, while the Bombers were two men short and the teams went to the second intermission tied 1-1.
Both teams played very close to the vest in the third period and with time waning in regulation time Luke Ridgway scored on an end-to-end highlight reel play to put the Bombers ahead with under three minutes remaining. From there the Bombers added two empty-net markers to win going away, as Sean Richards and then Grayson Salmon closed out the scoring into an empty net when Glacier Kings goaltender Luca Vanzo was pulled for an extra attacker.
Salmon and Owen Ditzel picked up one assist each on the evening.
Evan Grant was the winner between the pipes for the Bombers, lowering his goals against average to 1.33 with one shutout, over the series’ three games. The Bombers outshot the Glacier Kings 30-22.
The fourth game in the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Tuesday night at the Comox Valley Sports Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 pm. If a fifth game is necessary, it would be back in Port Alberni on Thursday night.
Bombers Take Stranglehold in Series
