By Ian Holmes

Nanaimo Buccaneers silence Westshore Wolves 7-2

Dec 14, 2017 | 9:49 PM

NANAIMO — A confident Buccaneers team (23-6-0-1) soundly defeated the Westshore Wolves 7-2 in VIJHL action Thursday night at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.

Billy Walters led the charge with a goal and two assists, while Clayton Peace, Cam Nickerson and Brandon Roberge each notched a goal and an assist to pace the Bucs to a third straight win.

It was a third consecutive defeat for the Wolves (16-13-1-1).

Bucs assistant coach Cam McCarrick said going 3-for-4 on the power-play was a good sign.

“That’s trending in the right direction, we’re continuing to build our power-play and I feel we’re starting to get our swagger back.”

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The Bucs held intermission leads of 3-1 and 6-2, then cruised to an easy win as the visiting Wolves were flat for most of the game.

Walters, a 19-year-old Powell River product, has been heating up lately with six points in his last three games. McCarrick said Walters is a reliable team-first player.

“He’s a really good role player for us, he’s always bringing the guys up if some guys are feeling down,” McCarrick said of Walters. “He’s making key contributions for us.”

Walters told NanaimoNewsNOW after the game the Bucs are a lethal team when they get offensive contributions throughout the lineup.

“That is what makes us so dangerous, sometimes you’re not always going but there’s a bunch of other guys that can do the same job as you.”

Walters was named the game’s first star.

Westshore forward Cameron Coutre, who leads the league in scoring, managed a goal and an assist. Coutre has a stunning 32 points (13.19.32) in his last 13 games. Coutre has 46 points on the season.

Nanaimo will be without their top scorer, Mathieu Jallabert for the next five games. He served the first of a six game suspension Thursday night, following an altercation last weekend versus the Kerry Park Islanders.

It’s a busy stretch for the Bucs, who visit the Campbell River Storm Friday night, before making the short trip to Parksville to face the Generals Sunday afternoon.

The latest match-up versus the Storm is a pivotal contest, as the Bucs have a one point lead on Campbell River atop the VIJHL North Division standings. The Storm have a game in hand.

Nanaimo hosts the Comox Valley Glacier Kings Thursday, Dec 21 at 7:15 p.m. The game will mark the last contest for the Bucs before the Christmas break.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes