GAME ONE RECAP
It wasn’t the start the Glacier Kings were hoping for to start the postseason, as they dropped game one of their first-round matchup to Port Alberni 4-0.
Not a whole lot managed to go write for the Glacier Kings, as they were severely outshot 39-15 on the road and weren’t able to manage a powerplay all game.
Head Coach Curtis Toneff said his team didn’t have their best performance but gave credit to Port Alberni for doing what they had to do.
“They played a perfect home game, they didn’t take any penalties, scored a goal on the powerplay, and they shut us out.”
Things were scoreless after the first period, but three Port Alberni second period goals gave them the lead, before adding an insurance marker in the third to put the game out of reach.
Port Alberni entered the first-round red hot, having won their final six games of the regular season including two shutouts to end the year, extending that streak in game one.
REST OF SERIES OUTLOOK
The series shifts back to the Comox Valley Friday night for game two of the series, with the Glacier Kings looking to avoid falling into a 2-0 hole in the series.
The Glacier Kings finished 21 points below the Bombers for second place in the North Division, making them a big underdog coming in in the eyes of many.
Despite entering as the underdogs, Toneff said his group is embracing the role and thinks they can pull off the upset.
“I don’t think a ton of people expect us to win, but we want to win, I think we have a really good dressing room, no one’s complained or asked for trades, they all love each other in there and we don’t want the season to end.”
Toneff also pointed to the fact that they were able to win three out of six matchups against Port Alberni in the regular season, with all the games being closely contested.
He also joked that it’s too early in the year to get out on the golf courses.
“The golfing weather doesn’t get good around here until May, so we want to keep playing hockey.”
The winner of the series will take on the winner of Campbell River and Lake Cowichan’s series, which currently has Campbell River leading 2-0.
The rest of the series schedule looks like this:
- Game 2: Friday February 28, 7:30 p.m. at Comox Valley Sports Centre
- Game 3: Sunday March 2, 6:00 p.m. at Alberni Valley Multiplex
- Game 4: Tuesday March 4, 7:00 p.m. at Comox Valley Sports Centre
- *Game 5: Thursday March 6, 7:00 p.m. at Alberni Valley Multiplex*
- *Game 6: Friday March 7, 7:30 p.m. at Comox Valley Sports Centre*
- *Game 7: Sunday March 9, 6:00 p.m. at Alberni Valley Multiplex*
*If necessary*
