Date: Saturday, January 3 • Venue: Comox Valley Sports Centre
Season Series: Tied 1–1 (PAB 2–1 SO on Oct. 11; COM 4–2 on Dec. 17)
Overview
The Port Alberni Bombers and Comox Valley Glacier Kings square off in a pivotal North Division matchup with playoff implications looming large. The season series is even, and each team has shown contrasting paths to victory: Port Alberni leaned on elite goaltending in a shootout win back in October, while Comox Valley answered with a decisive second-period surge in December. Now, as the calendar turns to January, the stakes rise especially given the current form of both clubs.
Standings Snapshot (as of Dec. 23)
North Division:
- Oceanside Generals – 45 pts
- Nanaimo Buccaneers – 41 pts
- Comox Valley Glacier Kings – 36 pts (3rd place)
- Campbell River Storm – 31 pts
- Port Alberni Bombers – 24 pts (5th place)
- Lake Cowichan Kraken – 20 pts
Playoff Picture:
- Top four teams qualify for the postseason.
- Comox Valley holds third, five points clear of Campbell River, and needs to keep pace to avoid slipping into a wildcard fight.
- Port Alberni sits 7 points back of fourth place and faces an uphill climb. Every divisional game is critical to keep their hopes alive.
Recent Form
- Port Alberni Bombers: Enter on a nine-game losing streak. Their last win came on Nov. 21 vs. Saanich. Defensive lapses and penalty issues have compounded struggles, making this matchup a potential turning point.
- Comox Valley Glacier Kings: Have won four of their last five, with their only setback coming in overtime vs. Lake Cowichan on Dec. 20. Trending upward with balanced scoring and strong goaltending.
Season Series Recap
- Game 1 (Oct. 11): Bombers 2–1 (SO)
- Naccarato’s 59-save masterpiece stole the show.
- Bombers struck early and held firm despite being outshot 60–37.
- Game 2 (Dec. 17): Glacier Kings 4–2
- Comox Valley erupted for three second-period goals.
- Bombers outshot COM 38–27 but couldn’t convert enough chances.
Series Tied: 1–1
Goals: COM 5 | PAB 4
Special Teams: Bombers 1-for-6 | Glacier Kings 0-for-5
Schedule Context
Port Alberni Bombers — Next Six
- Jan 3 – @ Comox Valley
- Jan 4 – vs Saanich
- Jan 9 – vs Westshore
- Jan 11 – @ Campbell River
- Jan 23 – @ Saanich
- Jan 25 – vs Lake Cowichan
Note: The next six games are evenly split—three at home and three on the road. Four of these are divisional matchups, making this stretch a balanced but critical opportunity to gain ground.
Comox Valley Glacier Kings — Early January
- Jan 4 vs Oceanside
- Jan 9 vs Nanaimo
- Jan 10 @ Kerry Park
(Then multiple divisional games through late January, including the Feb. 11 rematch with Port Alberni.)
Keys to the Game
- Goaltending Battle
- Naccarato’s Game 1 heroics (.983 SV%) gave PAB the edge.
- Ganoung’s Game 2 performance (.947 SV%) steadied COM.
- Whoever starts in net could dictate the pace—expect heavy traffic and rebound control to be decisive.
- Discipline and Special Teams
- Bombers own the only PP goal in the series.
- Glacier Kings must cut down stick infractions and post-whistle penalties to keep lines in rhythm.
- Second-Period Execution
- COM’s three-goal burst in Game 2 flipped the script.
- PAB needs strong neutral-zone structure and quick exits to avoid extended defensive shifts.
- Finishing Efficiency vs. Shot Volume
- COM thrives on depth scoring—four different goal scorers last time out.
- PAB outshot COM 38–27 in Game 2; converting net-front chances is the difference between pressure and points.
Players to Watch
- Comox Valley:
- Leon Mikhalchuk (15G, 17A) – Scored in both meetings; elite finisher.
- Westin Churchill (11G) – Scored early in the second meeting to open the scoring.
- Port Alberni:
- Malik Oliva (13G, 15A) – PP catalyst.
- Kash Nicklin (14G, 14A) – Speed and scoring touch.
- Joel Dorn – Shootout winner in the opener; secondary scoring and late-game composure.
Stakes on January 3
- Comox Valley: A win strengthens their hold on third place and builds cushion ahead of Campbell River & Port Alberni.
- Port Alberni: With 24 points and a nine-game skid, this is a must-win to chip away at the gap to fourth-place Campbell River (31 pts). Momentum from this game could define January.
Projected Flow & Edge
Expect a tight, physical first period with special-teams discipline front and center. The game likely opens in the second historically the swing frame in this series. If Comox Valley maintains structure and avoids penalty trouble, their balanced offense gives them a slight edge at home. Port Alberni’s path is clear: win the crease battle, limit penalties, and convert interior looks.
Projection: Comox Valley 4–3 (REG)
Swing factor: If Naccarato reaches Game 1 form, Port Alberni can flip this to a one-goal win.
Photography Credit to Dena Bews Morro
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