Oceanside’s Save On Foods Generals head into the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s final week of the regular season gunning for a couple more wins. Whatever the outcome, in light of their play of late, the local squad looks poised to make some noise in the playoffs.
The Generals are coming off a three-game week where they took four of a possible six points by way of back-to-back overtime wins despite missing four starting defensemen.
Captain Nick Bell was sitting out a suspension, as was Nathan Deyell, while Joseph Chase and Garrett Kemmler were both on the shelf with upper body injuries.
Oceanside lost to the VIJHL’s runaway league-leading Cougars 5-0 in Victoria last Thursday, carved out a 3-2 road win against the Kerry Park Islanders decided in a shootout, then beat the Saanich Braves 4-3 in extras at Oceanside Place on Sunday.
The score in the loss to the Cougars pointed out Gens’ head coach and GM Dave Johnston, wasn’t really indicative of the game,” as all five goals were on the power play.
“Victoria’s a good team — we’re the last team to have beaten them and that was almost three months ago,” Johnston said.
On Sunday Oceanside’s Riel Gibson opened the scoring shorthanded and unassisted in the second period. Taylor Grobowski upped it to 2-0 with a power play goal later the same frame.
The Braves fought back with three goals in just over six minutes to take a 3-2 lead into the final frame. Grobowski (Noah Russi, Kyle Yamasaki) scored on the power play to knot the game 3-3 which is how it stood after regulation.
Luciano Somerville (Riel Gibson) fed the net 2:23 into overtime for the Generals’ second straight win in extras.
Minding the twine in all three games was Gens’ starter Michael Gudmandson who has solidified himself as one of the best goalies in the league. Since joining the Generals Goody has posted a record of 15-9 with a GAA of 3.32 and a .900 save percentage.
GAME ON
The Generals, tied with Saanich for third place, are in Saanich Friday and return home Saturday against the Victoria Cougars in the league’s final regular season game.
On Sunday from 1-3 p.m. the Generals host their annual road hockey game in the OP parking lot.
