The Bucs sent a barrage of shots on goal in another win this past weekend.
The Nanaimo Buccaneers defeated the Comox Valley Glacier Kings by a 5-1 score on Saturday up Island, with shots ending up as a remarkable 65-16 tally.
“We moved the puck around well and tried to work on a couple things, but it was kind of a night where we just let the guys play,” said Curtis Toneff, Buccaneers coach.
Shots were 26-3 after one period with Nanaimo ahead 3-0. Toneff said his team could have poured it on more, but didn’t against an under-manned opponent.
“We even put a D on forward and a forward on D, tested some things out, trying to get a couple guys that haven’t scored in awhile a goal,” the coach said.
He said in a game like that, one team might try to run up the score and the other could try to take out its frustrations, but both teams “kept it classy.”
Mathieu Jallabert scored two goals and Noah Kelly, Billy Walters and Brandon Roberge also found the back of the net. Blake Wood earned the win in goal.
The Buccaneers’ other win last week was also noteworthy, as the team’s 3-2 road win over the Westshore Wolves allowed the Bucs to establish new franchise records for wins and points in a season.
Toneff said it’s part of the team’s push for a first-overall finish in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. Not only would it mean home-ice advantage in the playoffs, he said, but it’s something the team also wants for Phil and Brenda Levesque, who are in their last year as owners, and for graduating 20-year-olds.
“It would be nice for them to finish in first for one of those years, and why not this year?” Toneff asked. “At the same time, it’s more important that we’re still getting better every day and trending upward into playoffs … so when that puck drops come playoff time, we’re really ready to go.”
GAME ON … The Buccaneers host the Oceanside Generals on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 7:15 p.m. at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
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