By Ian Holmes

Bucs winning streak hits 10 games after hammering Glacier Kings

Oct 19, 2017 | 11:03 PM

NANAIMO — There doesn’t seem to be any brakes on the Buccaneers’ train.

The harbour city’s Junior B hockey team registered its franchise-best tenth straight win by dismantling the Comox Valley Glacier Kings 6-0 Thursday night at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.

The Bucs (11-1) own the VIJHL’s top record, while the Glacier Kings (2-10-0-1) continue to struggle.

Booker Chacialias and Noah Kelly had big nights offensively as the skilled rookie forwards both registered a goal and two assists.

Bucs head coach Curtis Toneff said he felt Chacalias and Kelly were their two best forwards, pointing out both were coming off assignments as BCHL affiliate players.

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“Kelly played Sunday for Powell River, Booker played last night for Port (Alberni Valley) and I think maybe they went up to the dance and saw what those guys do and why they’re at that level.”

Clayton Peace, Luc Wilson, Cam Nickerson and Brandon Roberge also rippled the twine for the surging Buccaneers.

Nanaimo outshot the Courtenay-based Glacier Kings 55-24 in front of 315 fans at the Pirate Ship.

The Bucs offence has been seemingly unstoppable lately — Nanaimo has scored a mesmerizing 65 goals (5.4 per game) in their first 12 games of the season. The Swordsmen still had a potent offence against the Icemen despite the absence of two thirds of Nanaimo’s top line as Mathieu Jallabert and Darian Harris were not dressed.

While the pucks are going in the opponents net regularly, very few have been getting by Buccaneers rookie starting goaltender Derek Krall. The 18-year-old Nanaimo product was sensational as usual, notching his eighth straight victory to start the season and second shutout.

“It’s unbelievable right now.” Krall said. “Everything’s going our way, everybody’s contributing what they can to the team. We’re just riding this wave and hopefully just keep it going.”

Amazingly Krall has not given up more than two goals in a start this season, while assembling an eye-popping 1.21 goals against average and .964 save percentage.

Krall hopes to follow the path of the Bucs starting goaltender of last year, John Hawthorne, who is flourishing as a 19-year-old rookie with the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs.

“The end goal is to definitely make Junior A hopefully coming up soon and go from there.”

The Buccaneers travel down island Friday night (Oct. 20) to face the Peninsula Panthers.

Nanaimo downed the visiting Panthers 7-1 last Thursday night, however Peninsula (5-7) could be on an emotional high after defeating the host Victoria Cougars 4-2 Thursday night.

The Bucs next home game is Thursday, Oct. 26 verus the Victoria Cougars at 7:15 p.m. at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.

— with files from Kyle Ireland

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes