As expected, multiple suspensions were handed down to both the Comox Valley Glacier Kings and Peninsula Panthers in Saturday’s affair in Courtenay. A total of 3 Glacier Kings and 2 Panthers play will miss time.
Comox defencman Aidan Bate-Smith was suspended for 2 games for “Abuse of Officials” for his part of the skirmish at the end of the second period. Jakob Gajda will miss one game for getting a game misconduct in the last 10 minutes of the third period. Jory Swanson was given the biggest penalty by being handed a 4-game suspension (2 games for getting a major for “Head Contact”, one more for a “NF game misconduct” and another one for a “game misconduct in the last 10 minutes of the game”). Both those incidents took place at 12:29 of the third period. Here is a summary of games each player will miss:
Aidan Bate-Smith: Nov. 3 @ Oceanside / Nov. 4 vs. Nanaimo
Jakob Gajda: Nov. 3 @ Oceanside
Jory Swanson: Nov. 3 @ Oceanside / Nov. 4 vs. Nanaimo / Nov. 9 @ Victoria / Nov. 10 vs. Oceanside
Two Panthers players each picked up one game suspensions from the altercations. Ty Hermsen got one game for a “NF game misconduct” while Jack McMillan got one game for a “game misconduct in the last 10 minutes of the game”. They will both miss their November 3rd home game against Saanich.
Darryl Skender
After beating Comox Valley 5-2 on Friday, the Peninsula Panthers came back to defeat the GKings 4-2 last night at the Recreation Centre. Tanner Wort led the way with a hat trick while Braeden Hansen added the other goal. The Glacier Kings got both of their goals from Jake McKenzie who had one of his best games of the season. He had a number of scoring chances and created numerous others. It was a very close game throughout with the teams tied 1-1 after the first and 2-2 after the second. Undisciplined penalties in the third period proved to be the difference as Comox Valley spent a majority of the final frame short-handed. The game got ugly at one point. Looking at it from the home perspective, expect Jory Swanson and Jakob Gajda to be suspended for their roles. The team had already lost Aidan Bate-Smith to a game misconduct in the second period and Ty Madden was in the box for most of the third. It had been a very entertaining game up until that point with lots of scoring chances and a lot of big clean hits. Lost in the mayhem were a lot of huge saves by goaltender Braedyn Funke. It was the first start for Sherwood Park native (he came in relief of Matt Henwood Friday) and he made 34 saves on the night. Funke came over as part of the Scott Rademaker deal which also saw Conner Bavaro head west from Castlegar. Comox now has 3 goaltenders in the fold and it will be interesting to see what coach Jordan Butcher decides to do. Tanner Doucette was the back up with Matt Henwood sitting out last night. It was Doucette sitting out on Friday. Benjamin Bretell, Jacob Kruse and Alex Wilford also did not dress last night. We mentioned the play of Damian Rennie the past couple home games. He seems to be playing with a lot more confidence and has shown some creativity on the ice. Willie Daigneault also had a strong game. After a bit of a slow start, Joe Gage is turning into the type of player we were expecting. He’s not afraid to jump into the rush and is always there to stick up for his teammates.
The loss drops the Glacier Kings record to 2-13-0-1 for the season as they remain 7 points behind the Oceanside Generals who dropped a 5-1 decision to the red hot Nanaimo Buccaneers. The Generals will be the Glacier Kings next opponent on Friday when the 2 clubs hook up at Oceanside Place. The next home is Saturday when the first place Nanaimo Buccaneers come for a visit. Nanaimo is currently riding a 13 game winning streak and are 14-1 overall.
Other observations:
- It was a beautiful day in Courtenay, sunny and 19 degrees. Just thought I’d throw that in there as I come from the prairies and yesterday reminded why I love it here.
- I didn’t end up getting any interviews despite being at the rink at 5:00 for a 7:30 game. Jordan Butcher and his team were in the video room for about an hour and half before the game. Jordan told me prior to the game he never received a text from me earlier in the day. Darn electronics. Brad Tippett, coach of the Panthers, was visiting with former NHL’er Mel Bridgeman before the game. Brad did come by and apologize after the game and said he did go back out to the lobby looking for me before the game. He’s a fellow Saskatchewan guy and I have a lot of respect for him.
- Someone that makes benches out of hockey sticks (they look really cool) approached management before yesterday’s game about possibly auctioning them off. I have no details but if it happens, they would make a terrific gift.
- I found out I won’t be able to broadcast the November 10th game against Oceanside as I will be in Newfoundland on a course (for my real job). Randall Heidt will do that game.
- Thanks to Matteo Giomo’s dad for the kind words after the game. He said he loves the job Randall and I do.
- A shout out to Marsha Webb for the job she has done this year. She doesn’t get to see any of the games as she works tirelessly outside the arena setting up tables, selling tickets, merchandise and putting out fires that arise. She always listens to me whine before every game about the coach not answering my texts or about access to interviews or that I’m having a bad hair day lol. And it’s not just me, a lot of people go to her and she gives everyone an ear (and the odd time an earful lol). After trying to straighten out everyone’s issues and missing the game, guess what she was doing afterwards… handing out a Halloween treat to the players as they left the arena. I also know she isn’t crazy about my blog because I write the blog as I call the game and it always isn’t sunshine and roses for the Glacier Kings. But she lets me do both and never questions me. So Marsha, thank you. You are sweetest person. (And also a pretty good cook.)
- Just a note for people that win gift certificates, merchandise, 50/50 draws etc. at the game. Randall and I don’t give out the prizes lol. It is Dave Dueck (the music and public address announcer) that gives you the prizes. Every game people always come to us during the broadcast lol.
- The GKings penalty killing is looking a lot better than it was earlier in the season. I just wish they didn’t get so much practice at it during the games.
- Happy Halloween everyone and we’ll see you at the rink next Saturday night!
Darryl Skender
The Comox Valley Glacier Kings put up a fight last night but fell short dropping a 4-2 decision to the Campbell River Storm. Defenceman Mauro D’Alessandro played his best game in a Glacier Kings uniform scoring both goals, delivering a lot of big hits, jumped into the rush a few times and played well defensively. The 17 year old came into the game with just one goal all season. The first period was dominated by Campbell River, who led 2-0 after the opening frame, but could have been a lot worse if not for the play of goaltender Matt Henwood who faced 33 shots on the night. I’m not sure what head coach Jordan Butcher said during that first intermission but it was a different Comox team in the 2nd. They outplayed the Storm but could just manage the one goal thanks to rookie goaltender Nate Reinhart who ended up stopping 26 of 28 shots. It was also a breakout game for Damian Rennie who looked like a veteran with a few terrific rushes. The discipline was better as the Gkings only took 3 minor penalties but when you go up against the best power play in the league it can still spell trouble. Campbell River ended up 2 for 3 with the man adavantage which of course was the difference in the game. Both teams played without an offensive threat. Dawson Frank is out with a shoulder injury while Matteo Giomo was a game time decision but couldn’t go.
Comox Valley dropped to 2-11-0-1 for the season while Campbell River improved to 11-4-1-0. Oceanside won last night to move 7 points ahead of the Glacier Kings in the North Division. The Icemen now prepare for a home and home series against the Peninsula Panthers. Friday will be at the Panorama Rec Centre and Saturday is back here. Hopefully the Glacier Kings can build on the pretty good effort they showed last night.
Other observations:
- Everyone was lined up for the for the opening faceoff last night but there was a delay. Then we saw Dave Webb walk onto the ice from the timekeepers bench, go across the ice to the other side and head off towards the dressing rooms. He later returned and took some good-hearted ribbing from the Campbell River bench. Apparently everyone was line up to start the game (including officials) but there were no pucks. Everyone had a good laugh. You have to love the rivalry.
- Injuries are always kept vague in hockey as we know. For instance last night, Storm coach Lee Stone told me Dawson Frank is out another couple weeks, assistant coach Bill Brett told me 3 weeks and Dawson, while, in the stands said 4 weeks. That’s pretty typical with every team in every league.
- What a difference a year makes. After 14 games last season, Comox Valley was 11-3-0-0, this year 2-11-0-1.
- Looked like it may have been the largest crowd of the season last night with a lot of fans coming down from Campbell River for the game. After the Storm won the contest, the Campbell River players waved their sticks high in the air to say thank you to all their fans who drove down the game. That’s something you only ever see home teams do.
- The large monitors above the timekeepers bench is still having glitches. I was told last night it may still be another 2 weeks before they are operating however it is being worked on this week so hopefully sooner.
- There were 2 fights last night (Gadjda-Messer and Arbuckle-Savey). That’s a rarity these days since the implementation of an automatic game misconduct.
- This is just my personal view but I’m not a fan of the one minute timeout (sometimes referred to as the TV timeout) midway through each period. It really breaks the flow of the game. I was told by someone that it’s an opportunity for teaching points for younger players. Really? A coach can’t talk to his players before, during and after a game? In fact, I think it does the opposite for younger players. The timeout gives the veterans an extra rest so more often than not, the veteran players will be right back on the ice. I don’t see the point of this mandatory timeout. We don’t have TV commercials and all it does is keep the players sitting on the bench longer. Once again, that’s just my personal opinion.
- We almost didn’t make it on the air on time for the pre-game show last night. Our HockeyTV computer decided to do a one hour update just before the game. We did end up getting to air just in time but I had one text saying they just had a very intermittent signal the whole game. I hope it wasn’t that way for everyone watching.
Darryl Skender
It’s been a tough go for the Comox Valley Glacier Kings this season and it won’t get any easier tonight as they take on the Campbell River Storm at the Recreation Centre. The Storm come into the game on a 2 game winning streak and are 4-1 this month. Campbell River is 10-4-1-0 overall which is good for 21 points and 2nd place in the North Division (also 2nd place in the entire league). After showing signs of being a great player last season as a 17 year old, Forward Dawson Frank has really come into his own this year as an 18 year old. He has 10 goals in his first 12 games and is 2nd in league scoring with 19 points despite missing the past 2 games and almost 3 as he was injured early in the Westshore game on October 13th. Frank is out indefinitely. 17 year old rookie Ryan Butler has been terrific so far. The former Pursuit of Excellence standout is tied for 2nd in the VIJHL with 10 goals and is tied for 6th in points (16) with teammate Darren Hards. Campbell River has just signed 16 year old Cody Savey to their roster. The 6′ 2″ 209 pound winger is on the Seattle Thunderbirds “50-man protected list” and actually played a couple games for the T-Birds last season. The Gold River product had a GoFundMe fundraiser started for him by the town a year and a half ago to help him in his hockey pursuit. Campbell River has two 1998 rookie goaltenders this season but that hasn’t seemed to hurt them. Spencer Deakin and Nate Reinhart have both been good and are 2nd and 3rd respectively in GAA (2.05 & 2.13).
The Glacier Kings are coming off a 6-0 loss in Nanaimo on Thursday night to drop their record to 2-10-0-1 overall. Despite averaging a league low 2.54 goals per game, Willie Daigneault and Finn Withey are tied for 14th in league scoring with 13 points apiece. The team looks a lot different since my last broadcast a couple weeks ago (I was away at a Jimmy Buffett concert). Defenceman Scott Rademaker was traded to Castlegar of the KIJHL for D-man Conner Bavaro. Bavaro is a 17 year old Delta product who played for the Varsity Academy team in Delta last year before playing 5 games with the Rebels squad this season. He played his 3rd game with Comox on Thursday night. Also in the fold is a local kid who has played with the Glacier Kings in the past. Forward Justin Mirabelli played in his first game in a couple of years on Thursday night. The 20 year old put up 19 points in 41 games two years ago for the GKings. Brandon Napoli and Reed Nichols have left to go play for the New York Apple Core in the Eastern Hockey League-Premier Division. They will play Tier 3 Junior ‘A’ hockey out there. Kootenay Ice product Cody Shepheard is back playing major midget hockey while Cole Amado and Cameron Waisman have been released. Matteo Giomo and Jacob Kruse are game time decisions as they are banged up. It will be important for Comox Valley to stay out of the penalty box tonight. The coaching staff has been working hard on special teams but Campbell River has the best power play in the VIJHL cashing in on over 25% of their opportunities while the Glacier Kings are last on the PK. Obviously as it is in every game, goaltending will be key because no matter how well a team plays against them, the Storm will always get their chances every game.
This is the third meeting of the season between these 2 clubs with the Storm winning the first two by scores of 5-0 and 8-1. Game time is 7:30 at the Comox Valley Recreation Centre. It’s always a big crowd when Campbell River comes to town so get to the arena early. If you can’t make the game, Randall Heidt and myself will bring you the game live on HockeyTV starting with the pre-game show at 7:15. I hope to have Finn Withey on as a first intermission guest and Mark Berry (play by play for the Storm) on during the second intermission.
Darryl Skender
Darryl Skender – Play by Play Broadcaster for the Comox Valley Glacier Kings
Above The Pond 