Bombers Win on Road

The Port Alberni Bombers, in a near must-win situation, defeated Campbell River Storm 5-2 on Friday night in Campbell River. Trailing two games to none in the best-of-seven Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League North Division final the Bombers scored first, and never trailed en route to a hard-fought victory, cutting the Storm series lead to 2-1.
Luke Ridgway scored his second goal of the playoffs to get the Bombers off on the right foot, giving the Bombers their first lead in the series. That was followed by a power play goal off the stick of Jack Barrett, and the Bombers led 2-0 before the game was ten minutes old. The power play marker was the first the Storm had surrendered in six-plus play off contests.
The Storm than scored a power play goal of their own as Dominic Grieco scored to make the score 2-1, but Sean Richards scored with less than a minute remaining in the first frame to restore the Bombers two-goal lead and the Bombers led 3-1 at the first break.
The Storm responded with their second power play goal just over a minute into the second period as Jacob Kulas made it 3-2, but again the Bombers answered back when Richards scored his second goal of the night and the Bombers led 4-2 after forty minutes.
Kenneth Boychuk scored the only goal of the third period, his fourth of the playoffs, to put the finishing touches on what was a comprehensive win for the Bombers.
Grayson Salmon had three assists on the night, while Leim Smith had two helpers. Ridgway, Richards and Zak Green had one assist each.
The Bombers outshot the Storm 31-28 on the evening as Evan Grant had another solid night in the Port Alberni net, while the locals were able to solve Storm net minder Kaeden Serpa for the first time in the series. The Campbell River backstop had allowed nine goals in his team’s first six playoff games going into Friday’s contest.
The Bombers were 1-for-6 on the power play, while the Storm were 2-for-5 with the man advantage.
The Bombers will look to even the series when the teams meet in Game 4 at the Alberni Valley Multiplex on Sunday night. The opening face-off is scheduled for 6:00.