Unbeaten Westshore Comes to Town as Kings Try to Build on Road Win

The Comox Valley Glacier Kings host the Westshore Wolves tonight at 6:30 PM at the Comox Valley Sports Centre, looking to carry some momentum into a tough matchup. Westshore is the only unbeaten team left in the league, 8-0-0-0, first overall, and riding an eight-game winning streak to open the season.

Coming Off a Much-Needed Road Win

Wednesday’s 2-1 win at Oceanside avenged Saturday’s home loss to the same team. Suhaan Nagra scored his first goal in his second stint with the club, and Declan Johannesen scored the game-winner. Ander Reyes made 37 saves on 38 shots for the win. Comox Valley is now 3-4-0-0, 6 points, fifth in the North Division and eighth overall.

A Third Addition: Ethan Gobel Is Back

The Kings made another move this week, adding forward Ethan Gobel. It’s a name Kings fans will know well. Gobel played 24 games for Comox Valley last season before a midseason call-up to the BCHL’s Powell River Kings on January 1, and at the time of that promotion, his 28 points (8G, 20A) led the Glacier Kings in scoring. He appeared in 31 games with Powell River afterward, then started this season with the NAHL’s Idaho Falls Spud Kings before this move brought him back to Comox Valley.

Gobel is a natural centre who wins faceoffs, plays a physical game, and has historically been a power-play fixture. His return gives the Kings back a proven playmaker who was their best offensive weapon the last time he wore the jersey. He’s in the lineup tonight.

A Real Test

Westshore isn’t just undefeated, it’s been dominant. The Wolves have outscored opponents 37-20 and are a perfect 4-0-0-0 both at home and on the road. They’ve out-shot their opponent in seven of their eight games. Trace Anderson leads the team with 14 points (5G, 9A) in 7 games, and Noah Gebicki isn’t far behind with 13 points (2G, 11A).

History favours Westshore too. Over the last five years, the Wolves hold a 7-5 edge in the season series, and specifically at the Comox Valley Sports Centre, Westshore is 5-1-0-0 against the Kings. Comox Valley is also winless at home this season, 0-4-0-0 so far.

Strength on Strength, Again

Special teams will matter. Comox Valley’s power play leads the entire league at 28.0 percent, and its penalty kill is also first in the league at 87.5 percent. Westshore’s own power play sits at 25.0 percent (third) and its penalty kill at 85.7 percent (fifth). Both teams can make the other pay for mistakes.

In Net

Ander Reyes gets the start again for the Kings, a .955 save percentage, second in the league behind only Donato Padula. Westshore goes with Mathias Ramos-Gadbois tonight rather than usual starter Oskar Ponomaryov, who has been outstanding in his own right, 6-0-0-0 with a 2.29 GAA. Ramos-Gadbois has one appearance this season, a win over Kerry Park.

Lineup Notes

Comox Valley will be without Oliver Luttrell, Tee Hagel, Marko Udovicic and Anthony Ganoung tonight. Owen Downey, the Kings’ other trade addition, is held pointless through his first game but remains in the lineup.

Looking Ahead

The Kings visit Port Alberni on October 9, then host a busy weekend at the Sports Centre, Victoria on October 10 and Port Alberni again on October 12.