By Ian Holmes

Bucs blowout host Storm, win 7-3

Dec 16, 2016 | 10:59 PM

CAMPBELL RIVER — A statement victory for the scorching hot Nanaimo Buccaneers, who soundly defeated the VIJHL North Division leading Campbell River Storm 7-3 at Rod Brind’Amour arena on Friday night.

Key first period goals by Cole Broadhurst and Danny Pion staked the Bucs (19-12) to a lead and they didn’t look back as the Storm (23-7) dropped their second consecutive game to Nanaimo.

Trent Bell had two goals for the visitors, while other Bucs’ goal scorers were Jacob Carr, Chad Bell and Cale Cripps. Cam Nickerson supplied three assists. John Hawthorne, starting in the Nanaimo crease on back-to-back nights, made 44 saves for the win.

Nanaimo Head Coach Dan Lemmon says Friday night’s result is very important. He says the road to a VIJHL championship likely goes through the River City.

“Campbell River is a really good team, they play really good hockey, we’re more of a meat and potatoes team,” said Lemmon. “We’re grinders, we’re finishing our checks and we’re going to the net hard. I think tonight we just played our game better than Campbell River did,” said Lemmon.

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Nanaimo has won six straight games and been victorious in a remarkable 14 of its last 17 contests. The incredible turnaround followed a rocky 5-9 start to the regular season. The Swordsman were outshot by Campbell River 47-26. Nanaimo went 1/4 on the powerplay, while the Storm were 0/6. Nanaimo goaltender John Hawthorne has won nine of his last 10 starts and improved his record to 15-6 on the season. The Storm still lead the season series 4-2. The two teams hook up next on Thursday, Jan. 12 in Nanaimo.

Lemmon says Campbell River charged out of the gate with a typical fast home ice start. He says Hawthorne made a few big saves before they settled down and found their game.

“We got physical down low on them, we started shooting pucks and going to the net, found a couple rebound goals early.”

The Buccaneers managed to win despite not having the services of two of their top defenseman. Clayton Peace served a one-game suspension for fighting with under 10 minutes left in Thursday night’s 4-2 win over visiting Westshore. Rearguard Coleman Doney remains sidelined with a lower body injury, but is slated to return early in 2017. Physical winger Patrick Poets also didn’t suit up for the Bucs. Campbell River was missing skilled forwards Kobe Oishi and Zach Erhardt.

Nanaimo remains two points up on the Comox Valley Glacier Kings for second place in the VIJHL’s North Division after the Icemen pounded the Victoria Cougars 8-2 in Courtenay on Friday night.

Lemmon says the Bucs have been doing the little things well during their hot streak, like keeping shifts short, getting pucks deep and not cheating to create offense.

“We’re getting better every day…if we keep progressing like this we’ll put ourselves in a good position come March and April,” he said.

The Bucs last game before the Christmas break is on Thursday, Dec. 22 versus the Saanich Braves at the Nanamo Ice Centre at 7:15 p.m.