Playing against one of the hottest teams in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL), the Port Alberni Bombers suffered their most lop-sided defeat of the 2025-26 campaign, falling 9-0 to Victoria Cougars on Saturday night at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.
Having won six of their seven games in the month of November, the Cougars scored three goals in each period to hand the Bombers their second loss in a row.
Joseph Melichar led the Victoria onslaught with two goals and two assists, while Carter Zeeben scored twice, and Haydyn Brooks, Tyler Delli-Carri, Brandon Smith, Jordan Ramsay, and Ben Wetterberg added singletons.
Simon Semancik notched three assists, and Ramsay, Wetterberg and Grady Slugget had two helpers each.
Lane Maarhuis recorded the shutout for the Cougars, stopping 16 shots, while Victoria fired 50 shots at the Bomber goal in the comprehensive victory.
The Bombers will lick their wounds and return to action with a pair of games – facing the Cougars again at the Multiplex on Friday and then travelling to Parksville and a meeting with Oceanside Generals on Saturday evening. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:00 pm.
They Said There Would be Days Like These
