The Lake Cowichan Kraken won one, then lost two in a row in three games in as many days to end September. Even so, they remain atop the North Division standings with a 5-3 record through eight games.
"It was a big three-game weekend," said team captain Aleksander Leonelli. "I think the last couple games we came out a bit flat footed and were just beat up. That three games [in three days] wasn't easy, but we've got the hardest part of our season taken care of now."
The Port Alberni Bombers visited the Kraken at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena on Sept. 26 and fans were treated to a four-goal output from the home team.
Nicolas Kalinocka scored in the first period to give Lake Cowichan the upper hand. With the goal, Kalinocka tied for first in team scoring with four goals. Assists went to rookie Kieren Prichett and Toby Johnson.
Unassisted, Johnson scored his first goal of the season, short-handed, five minutes into the second period to double the Kraken's lead.
The team didn't take their foot off the gas, out-shooting Port Alberni 47-34 overall.
Also potting their first goals of the season were rookies Diezel Wyton, who scored at 13:19 of the second from Logan Walz and Prichette, and Addison Bradley, who netted his unassisted goal 33 seconds after Wyton's.
The Bombers got one back in the third but it wasn't enough as the Kraken went on to win at home by a 4-1 score.
Lake Cowichan's first-year VIJHL goalie Alfie Blakeley earned the win — his fifth of the year — with his first-star performance.
On Sept. 27 the Kraken visited the Oceanside Generals. They out-shot the Generals 32-29, but lost 3-1.
Prichette scored his third of the year on a Lake Cowichan power-play to get his team off to a 1-0 start. Luke Bennett and Iaroslav Morozov earned assists on the goal.
The Kraken held the one-goal lead through two periods but in the third period, three Oceanside goals — one on the power-play, one at even strength, and one empty-net goal — powered the Generals to a 3-1 victory over the Kraken.
Blakeley was the game's third star despite taking the loss — his first of the year between the pipes.
The following night against the Storm in Campbell River, the Kraken were out-shot 43-25 but still managed to make the game competitive.
With no scoring in the first, it was Lake Cowichan that got on the board first in the second period. A power-play goal from Landy Johnson marked his fourth of the year, tying him for the team goal-scoring lead.
Assists went to Aleksander Leonelli and rookie Cole Federovich.
Federovich also took a match penalty for a check to the head in the second period and has been suspended for five games.
Goals midway through the second and late in the third gave the Storm the lead and then extended it. The end result was a 2-1 Campbell River victory.
Evgeni Tkachenko made his second start in net for Lake Cowichan, stopping 41 of 43 shots in his second loss of the season.
Leonelli said the team is looking to rebound quickly.
"I know the boys weren't pleased and we are excited to jump back into it this weekend."
The Kraken played home games against Oceanside on Oct. 3 and Westshore on Oct. 10. Those scores were not available before the Gazette's deadline.
