The Lake Cowichan Appollos didn’t disappoint during their Sept. 27 home opener against the Nanaimo Steelmen.
Close to 500 spectators were on hand to watch the first regular-season game of the newly established West Coast Senior Hockey League, and it proved memorable as the Appollos dominated in a 12-5 victory.
Caleb Franklin led the offence with three goals and two assists. Player of the Game Ryan Hogg and forward Evan Easton each added two goals and two assists.
Colten Thompson chipped in a goal and two helpers, while Kal Nagy, Sukraj Narwal and Bryce Burnett all had a goal and an assist. Samson McLean rounded out the scoring.
Keenan Eddy, Parker Bergstrom, Josh Anderson, Rhys Mazurenko and Jamie Roberts each had two assists, while Brady Van Herk added one.
“Ty Rennie was solid in net,” said Apollos assistant coach Glen Smith.
Smith noted giving up five goals was more about it being early in the season than anything else. Nanaimo scored two power-play goals while the Appollos were still ironing out their penalty-kill plans.
“The team displayed offensive firepower, but scrambled at times in their own end,” he said.
The Appollos play the Steelmen in Nanaimo on Oct. 11 before returning home to host the Powell River Regals on Oct. 24 at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
