By Ian Holmes

Red-hot Buccaneers melt slumping Glacier Kings

Dec 21, 2017 | 9:33 PM

NANAIMO — The Buccaneers (26-6-0-1) cruised into the Christmas break with a 3-1 victory over the the Comox Valley Glacier Kings (4-28-0-1) Thursday night at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.

Billy Walters, Brandon Roberge and Jayden Schubert scored for the surging Swordsmen.

Despite heavily outshooting Comox Valley 46-18, Bucs head coach Curtis Toneff felt the game was far from an oil painting.

“It was sloppy, it looked kind of like a pre-season game to be honest with you,” Toneff said.

The Bucs had a dominant first period, but only managed a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes, thanks in large part to strong goaltending from Comox Valley’s Braedyn Funke.

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Schubert padded Nanaimo’s lead late in the second period. The 20-year-old power forward from Abbotsford has been riding a hot streak, piling up 17 points (7.10.17) in his last 10 games.

The Bucs had affiliate goaltender Austin Dendl make his first VIJHL start. He played a portion of Nanaimo’s overtime win in Parksville Sunday afternoon and was credited with the win. It was an audition for the 17-year-old Nanaimo product, who suits up for the BC Major Midget League’s North Island Silvertips.

“I have a feeling we’ll be looking for at least one goalie if not two next year, I wanted to see if he could compete at this level and I thought he did that,” Toneff said of Dendl, who turned aside 17 shots.

The Bucs have won six straight, including a clutch 6-5 victory in Campbell River last Friday night, and the extra time triumph over the Generals two days later.

Nanaimo has a perfect 7-0 record against last place Comox Valley this season, outscoring the Icemen 45-20. Comox Valley recently snapped a nasty 11-game losing skid.

The Bucs are now 21-0 this season when leading after two periods of play. The Bucs were 23-0-0-1 last season heading into the third period ahead on the scoreboard.

Nanaimo’s Junior B hockey team has a five point lead on the Campbell River Storm for first place in the VIJHL’s North Division. The Storm have two games in hand and host Victoria Friday night.

The Bucs return to action following the Christmas break to face the visitng Oceanside Generals on Thursday, Jan 4 at 7:15 p.m at the Pirate Ship.

—with files from Kyle Ireland

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes