The Storey Creek Trading Midget B Tyees played a game at home last Sunday against the Comox Chiefs in their second meeting of the season.
The Tyees took to the ice with a few regulars out of the line up for various reasons but got lots of support from affiliate players and one Bantam player. Campbell River came out fast and tested the Chiefs goalie early on forcing Comox to take a penalty just 20 seconds in. They compounded their problems taking another minor a minute later.
The home team failed to take advantage but gained momentum and took control of the game. Their hard work paid off with Matthew Barker getting a shot from the point through traffic and past the netminder for the early lead.
The Tyees maintained pressure and controlled the play giving Comox little to work with until late in the first when the Chiefs managed to even up the score. Ken Fornari finished up a play from Jaret Knowles and Austin Simper regaining the one goal lead before the end of the first period.
Eight minutes into the second Jaret Knowles buried a juicy rebound on a Tyson Dumont blast from the point for the two goal lead before the midway point ice clean. Campbell River lost some of their earlier discipline taking the team’s first penalty early into their return to the ice and giving up a power play goal. A short time later the Tyees took their second penalty and gave up their second power play goal tying the game at 3-3 before the end of the second period.
Coaches Pete Apostolakos and Tim Walley used the second intermission to talk with the team and keep them sticking to the game plan. The third period was barely a minute old before Caleb Hanson restored the lead to the home side, picking up a puck near the blue line and fooling the goalie. Hanson got his second of the game on a behind-the-net feed from Royce Barrie, giving them a 5-3 lead with 15 minutes to play.
Campbell River gave up a third power play goal on their fourth penalty of the game bring the Chiefs to within one at the 10:36 mark. Hometown goalie Mike Sampson was solid, making his best save so far with his glove while rolling around in the net on a bullet shot from a wide open Chief. With less than three to play in the third, the Tyees decided to make it interesting for the large crowd gathered to watch. Campbell River was given a double minor for tripping and chirping, but that wasn’t exciting enough, they took another penalty killing that penalty. 5 on 3 advantage with 1:21 to go, no wait, it is now a 6-3 advantage after Comox pulls its goalie. Now it is exciting, thank Tyees for giving the crowd something to watch midway through a Sunday. Comox put everything they had into getting the tie but Campbell River maintained their positions and made no mistake clearing the puck as soon as it hit their sticks. Penalties and penalty kills were the only weak spot, giving up three goals on just eight attempts.