The Whalers were in town last weekend playing their first home game of the year, actually make it their first home game of the season. Being forced to play most of their games out of town due to very little ice availability in the Comox Valley, the Whalers had yet to play in front of their family and friends. A full squad turned out on Saturday night to take on the visitors from Port Alberni. Not having played since before Christmas, most were very anxious to hit the ice. Minutes after the puck dropped, a Port Alberni player broke loose and ended up on a breakaway in front of rookie goalie and newly appointed full time member of the Whalers Katrin Bizier. Bizier surprised everyone with a a glove save à la Luongo! On that same play, the Alberni player went flying into the board behind the net and stayed down with what appeared to be a shoulder injury. It took a little over 40 minutes before the game was restarted as the ambulance had to be called to move the player safely. After the unfortunate accident, the two teams resumed play for what was left of the game. Winger Sky Zimmerman (Brian McLean) gave the Whalers their first lead of the game in the 12th minutes with a rocket shot from the right side. Shortly after, Alberni tied it up to end the first period with a score of 1-1. Whalers came out strong in the second and only other period scoring in the fifth minute on a nice finish from Jody Fink (Vancouver Island InsuranCentre) and again in the sixth minute on a bruiser from the point by Allison Abraham. The Whalers could smell their first home game victory but were robbed of their celebrations as the visiting team rained on their parade when they scored with just 40 seconds left in the game. A final score of 3-3 sealed the deal. Kelly Roloff (Whistle Stop Pub) had a superb game and commented on the game “It was a super fun game…well matched teams and good spirit from
both.”
The Whalers took to the ice for their second home game on Sunday and were determined not to let another one slip away. A full game, a full squad, family and friends. Nothing could get in the way…except a slow start! The Parskville team came on a bit faster than expected and rung the homers bell with a quick goal in the second minute and again in the fifth minute. A little on the dizzy side, the Whalers got their bearings back and started to raise to the challenge. Whaler defender Emily Murray ( Whale’s Tale Toys) would not let a two goal lead scare her away as she skated coast to coast to bury the first goal for the home team. Jody Fink followed shortly after with her second of the weekend to tie it up. A couple of minutes before the end of the period, the Seagals were able to put a third one passed Goalie Bizier. The third period saw a lot of action on both ends of the rink with the home team scoring three goals midway through with contributions from Chanace VanDerheide, Sky Zimmerman and a second from Murray. With less than 7 minutes to end the game, the Whalers got caught with their guards down and allowed the opposition to cut the lead to only one with 40 seconds left. It was a hard fought 40n seconds as the Whalers were not going to let another one get away. Final score 6-5 for the Whalers. “It was a great two games for us. We were a finely tuned unit of atheletic prowess. It was gut check time. Everybody was contributing and all lines were firing. Quality hockey. Absolutely!” was all Abraham could say before her teammates told her to go get changed and that the boys in the stands were not reporters!!!
Next game for the Whalers Saturday January 22nd at the Glacier Gardens rink against across town rivals Breakers.
Thanks to Ecofish Research Ltd for their generous support and to all player sponsors mentioned above.
Leave a Reply