The Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals start the VIJHL 48-game regular season Friday evening in Campbell River and are back at Oceanside Place Saturday for their big home opener against the Nanaimo Buccaneers.
Tickets to the Gens’ home opener are free, thanks to the generosity of the team’s major sponsor, Save-On-Foods. While they last, you can get tickets to Saturday’s game at Save-On-Foods in Wembley Mall..
Local MLA and decorated Paralympian Michelle Stilwell will be dropping the ceremonial faceoff before the game starts at 7:30 p.m.
There will also be a prize caravan, and the Save-On-Foods prize wheel starts at 6 p.m. (everyone’s a winner).
The Generals wrapped up the pre-season during a busy long weekend. They took to the ice for three pre-season games in three days, posting a win, a tie and a loss.
The Generals opened the 2013/14 preseason at home Friday night with a 3-1 win over the Comox Valley Glacier Kings.
At home at ‘the Place Saturday against the Nanaimo Buccaneers on a night that began with a touching tribute to Lukas Whibley, the two teams were tied 2-2 after 20 minutes and the visitors led 3-2 at the second intermission.
Oceanside scored three times in the final frame and the Bucs tallied twice for a 5-5 final.
Nanaimo outshot Oceanside 39-35 on the night.
In Comox on Sunday for their third game in three days the Generals and ‘Kings were tied 2-2 after 20 minutes, Comox struck for two unanswered goals in the second period and went on to win 6-4 (with an empty-net goal).
“We come out really strong on Friday night,” said assistant coach Rob Gaudreault. “I thought it was a good effort.
Back at home Saturday against Nanaimo, the Generals found themselves down 2-0 midway through the opening frame but rallied back to knot it 2-2 — home -grown captain Travis Flug steamed in and tied it up with 39.5 seconds left in the opening period — and the two teams turned in a fast-paced exciting game.
The Gens were trailing 5-4 late in the game and salvaged the tie with about 13 seconds left.
“Another really good effort by our guys,” said Gaudreault. About Sunday’s loss in Comox: “the guys were running out of gas. It was our sixth ice time in six days and third game in three days, but they still put in a good effort.”
Line scores from the three games were unavailable, but forwards Dylan Moore, who struck for two goals Saturday night, and Adam Robertson, both showed they’ll be a force for Oceanside this season.
Overall, Gaudreault said the scoring “was a good mix, with the vets scoring half and the rookies scoring half so it was a good spread of talent out there.
Bright spots “were our two young goalies. I thought they both played really good. It was great to see them both play strong in net, not be intimidated by anything and hold their composure.”
Alex Olson got the start in net Saturday night, and local goalie Liam Giroux was between the pipes Saturday.
The two split the duties in net on Sunday, with Giroux allowing only one goal against in his half-game of action.
— NEWS staff
