The Oceanside Bantam Generals wrapped up the opening weekend of the Tier 2 North round-robin playoffs with one point after skating to a 2-2 draw with visiting Campbell River at Howie Meeker Arena on Saturday.
The team’ second scheduled game, at Powell River Sunday, was postponed when weather conditions forced cancellation of the ferry sailing out of Comox.
A reschedule date had not yet been announced by the Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association as The NEWS went to press on Monday.
Kobe Verbicky scored both goals for the bantams on Saturday as the Generals played come-from-behind in a penalty-marred game.
“It was a very hard-fought game for both teams,” Oceanside coach Troy Newans said.
The Tyees took a 1-0 lead into the second period before Verbicky tied it off a Cage Newans assist at 15:21 of the second period.
Campbell River went back in front on Carson Strom’s goal at 12:19 of the third period, but Veribicky again answered, off an assist from Adam Fyfe, to provide the final score. Goalie Isaac Belveal went the entire way in net for the Generals.
“Once again, our goaltending was solid,” Troy Newans said. “As was our penalty kill, managing to kill off 10 of 11 penalties.”
Oceanside finished first in regular-season play in Division 2 with an 8-0-2 record. The Tyees, meanwhile, competed in Division 1.
The bantams were scheduled to be off this weekend before wrapping up the four-game round-robin by hosting Nanaimo in a rare Friday game at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 10, followed by a trip to Comox on Sunday, Feb. 12. The make-up game against Powell River will have to be played before the round-robin is completed Feb. 12.
The top two finishers in the five-team playoff advance to the Vancouver Island Tier 2 semifinals against the two South Island qualifiers.
Peewees win opener
The Oceanside Peewee Generals got the postseason off to a solid start Saturday, rolling to a 5-3 win over the Nanaimo Clippers at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
The team was scheduled to host regular-season league champion Powell River Sunday at Howie Meeker Arena; no information is available on that game.
The peewees return to playoff action Sunday with a noon matchup against Comox Valley at Meeker Arena. They are scheduled to close out the Tier 2 North round-robin the following weekend, with a Feb. 11 game at Campbell River.
— NEWS Staff
