By Ian Holmes

Visiting Glacier Kings crown Buccaneers in a strange game at NIC

Sep 22, 2016 | 11:38 PM

NANAIMO — They didn’t do themselves any favours, but a jaw-dropping first period goal against knocked the wind out of the Nanaimo Buccaneers’ sails Thursday night at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.

A rough start cost the Bucs (1-4) who gave up three first period tallies en-route to a 6-3 loss to the Comox Valley Glacier Kings (4-2).

The 3-0 goal midway through the first period stunned the crowd as the Bucs inadvertently scored on their own vacated net after defenseman Clayton Peace missed the net on a point shot – which sent the puck rimming around the boards and all the way down the ice into the net which was unguarded due to a delayed penalty.

Glacier Kings goaltender Marcus Gloss was credited with the goal, however, it didn’t appear he touched the puck prior.

“It’s a mistake that hopefully we learn from and hopefully it doesn’t happen again,” says Nanaimo head coach Dan Lemmon.

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The dismayed coach was referring to a lack of recognition by a defender to read the play and cut the puck off before it tumbled down the ice.

Clayton Peace and Jacob Carr scored for Nanaimo who trailed 4-1 and 6-1 at the intermission breaks.

A lack of team defense, particularly coverage in front of their own net, has cost the Buccaneers heavily early this season.

The local Junior B club has surrendered six or more goals in four of five outings early in the VIJHL season.

The Bucs have also allowed a league high 28 goals.

Coach Lemmon says their defensemen must do a better job of shutting back-door passes down which are leading to avoidable goals against.

“We think it’s okay to just stand there with him and not take away the stick and have good defense positioning on him. It’s something that we’re trying to correct in practice.”

Further adversity struck the Bucs after a line brawl broke out late in the third period which led to a pair of one game suspensions.

Nanaimo will be without the services of defenseman Cale Cripps and forward Cole Broadhurst Saturday night when the Bucs visit Kerry Park.

Both Bucs will watch the game from the bleachers for fighting with less than ten minutes left in regulation.

Lemmon wasn’t happy with the timing of the dust-up, noting his team was down 6-3, had momentum from two third period goals, and still had more than six minutes left on the clock to get back in the game.

He then paused and took a glass half-full approach.

“At least we stood up for ourselves in that situation. Comox Valley is a big, tough team and maybe standing up to them at this point will do something in the future for us.”

John Hawthorne faced 29 Glacier Kings’ shots and took the loss in goal.

Liam Nijhoff scored twice while Finn Withey collected two assists to lead the Glacier Kings offense.

The Buccaneers return home next Thursday night (Sept. 29) to face the Kerry Park Islanders at 7:15 at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.