The Port Alberni Bombers kept aspirations for a Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League North Division regular season title alive with a 3-2 win over Campbell River Storm on Wednesday night at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.
While the task is still daunting – the Bombers are now seven points in arrears of the Storm with five games remaining, they can take comfort in the fact the opportunity still exists. When the 2024-25 season began, even their most ardent fans would not have dared think the Bombers would have reached the lofty heights they have attained so far.
The visitors led 1-0 after 20 minutes when Wyatt Dumont scored his third of the season, firing a wrist shot from the point past a screened Evan Grant in the Bombers goal.
Leim Smith pulled the Bombers even in the second frame, scoring his twenty-third of the campaign on a rink-length passing play by the Bombers that concluded with Smith leaving Storm goaltender Kaeden Serpa grasping at straws in a futile attempt to stop the elusive Bomber.
For the most part, the third frame was all Bombers, save the final two minutes. The locals scored twice on the power play, Zach Spafford and Sean Richards tallying, to give the Bombers a lead they would never relinquish. Jan-Felix Faupel scored for Campbell River with under two minutes remaining, and the Storm did apply pressure with the goalie pulled, and on the power play, but it was too little, too late and the Bombers defeated the Storm for the second time in five days.
Smith and Richards added assists to go along with their goals, while Luke Ridgway and Grayson Salmon also contributed helpers.
Bombers goalie, Grant stopped 27 of 29 shots on the evening to pick up the win. The Bombers were 2-for-9 on the power play while holding their opponents scoreless in four attempts with the man advantage.
The Bombers play twice this weekend – on Friday they travel to Saanich to take on the Predators in a game slated for a 6:30 start at George Pearkes Arena, before returning home for a Saturday night tilt against Westshore Wolves. Opening face-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
Bombers Win Keeps First Place Hopes Alive
