STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.

Nanaimo Buccaneers drop entertaining 4-1 decision to visiting Campbell River

Sep 15, 2016 | 10:56 PM

NANAIMO — The Nanaimo Buccaneers faltered 4-1 to the visiting Campbell River storm Thursday night, but the young Bucs held their own in a fast-paced contest against what is expected to be one of the league’s top teams this season.

Brief Bucs lapses of an early goal for Campbell River and a pair more off Storm sticks 39-seconds apart late in the second period to build up a 3-0 lead was enough to pace the visitors to victory.

Colin Blake, the game’s first star, had two assists to lead the Storm’s offence.

Trent Bell notched his third tally of the season, a shorthanded effort in the third period, to get the hosts within striking range, but that is as close as Nanaimo would get.

Buccaneers assistant coach Doug Langlois was disappointed with the result, but pleased with how they contained a dangerous offensive club for most of the night.

“We worked a lot of that on our practice at Wednesday night of d-zone coverage, half of the practice on that. Really happy with how they responded with that, with how they learned and how they implemented it into the game,” says Langlois.

Buccaneers goaltender John Hawthorne made several point-blank saves, giving his team a chance to win the game, despite being out chanced and out shot 33-24.

Langlois says being physical on a regular basis is something they got away from a bit.

“Gotta finish our checks on the forecheck throughout the entire game, not just periods at a time. If we learn that, we’ll be fine.”

The Buccaneers (1-2) travel to Saanich tomorrow night to challenge the Saanich Braves (3-1).

The VIJHL’s top scorer is former Nanaimo Clipper forward Nick Guerra who has 13 points including eight goals in just four outings.

Buccaneers head coach and general manager Dan Lemmon makes his return behind the Bucs bench Friday evening after serving a three game suspension.