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
Above The Pond 