The Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals earned a split last week with a win against the Saanich Braves Wednesday and a loss to the Nanaimo Buccaneers last Saturday night.
Earlier last week, the Generals earned their second straight victory, and first shutout of the season, with a 6-0 win against the Saanich Braves.
Goaltender Matt Henwood earned his first career shutout in the VIJHL, turning aside 37 shots in the win and pushing his personal winning streak to four straight games.
That streak came to an end on Saturday night, as Henwood was once again between the pipes for the Gens as they lost to the Nanaimo Buccaneers 6-2.
“Henwood has been great for us lately,” captain Cam Nickerson said. “He’s been playing with a lot of confidence and for a 16-year-old kid in this league, it’s pretty good to see. We definitely can feel it when he’s in net and it rubs off on us when we’re out there for sure.”
Defensively on Saturday night against the Bucs, it wasn’t quite the effort that head coach Brad Knight was looking for.
“We really struggled on the back end,” Knight said. “I didn’t think our defence played well against Nanaimo and that was the difference in the game.”
“We weren’t able to get back and move the puck as easily as we would have liked and Nanaimo took advantage of that.”
The Generals continued to make roster moves, sending Tristan Sailor to the Comox Valley Glacier Kings in exchange for defenseman Dayton Keith.
Also back in the lineup for the Generals are forwards Logan Savard and Brodie Smith. Both were reassigned to the Generals from the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Forward Troy MacTavish was signed last week by the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL.
“It’s good to come back to a better environment here,” Savard said. “Obviously, it’s tough being sent down from the BCHL but I’m glad to see things have changed here.”
“There was a lot of negativity surrounding this team the last few seasons and I think having the new coaching staff and general manager in place has really turned things around.”
Smith, who was injured for most of his time with the Bulldogs, registered three points in his first game with the Generals against the Braves last Wednesday, with two goals and an assist.
Savard meanwhile has a goal and an assist in his first four games back.
“They bring quality leadership to our team,” Nickerson said. “Those are two guys who were at the next level that our younger players want to be at. They see that and feel like it’s within their reach to get there.”
“Brodie and Logan bring both leadership and a different skill set to our team up front, which is great for us,” Nickerson said.
It’ll be a tough test for the Generals this week as they have three games in three days, two of them against the Campbell River Storm, Friday night in Campbell River and Sunday afternoon (2:30) at Oceanside Place. The Gens also host the Peninsula Panthers on Saturday night, 7:30 puck drop at Oceanside Place.
