In the race to avoid playing in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s wildcard playoff game, the Kerry Park Islanders put some more distance between themselves and the Oceanside Generals with a 7-2 win on Sunday afternoon.
Once the regular season wraps up, the bottom two teams in the VIJHL will square off in a one-game battle for a playoff position. One of those spots is all but sewn up by the Peninsula Panthers, and at this point, the Generals are holding on to the other spot. With Sunday’s victory, the Isles increased their lead over the Generals to 10 points.
“It was a good game for us,” Islanders owner Mark Osmond said. “We were pretty happy with the performance, and we put a bit of ground between us and Oceanside for the wildcard.”
The teams played a tight first period that came within 10 seconds of being completely penalty-free. Garnett Roberts scored his first goal of the season in just his third game with the Isles after going 30 scoreless games with the Peninsula Panthers, and the Isles were up 1-0 when the horn sounded. The Isles dominated the second period with four goals, including two just nine seconds apart right around the midpoint of the stanza.
Oceanside got going early in the third with an even-strength goal 20 seconds in and a powerplay marker right at the two-minute mark, but the Isles held them off for the rest of the game, scoring a shorthanded empty-netter before adding another late goal at even strength.
“The boys came out a little lackadaisical in the third,” Osmond admitted.
Only four Islanders were held off the scoresheet on Sunday as scoring was spread out. Kayden Peck finished with a goal and three assists, while Will Connors scored twice, and Jarret Malloch had a goal and one helper. Roberts, Brandon Wilson and Samson McLean also potted singles, and Caleb Franklin and Connor Bissett had two assists apiece. Rett Rook had another outstanding outing in net, making 39 saves for the win.
After five consecutive home games, the Isles have two road games this week, visiting the Nanaimo Buccaneers on Thursday and the Comox Valley Glacier Kings on Saturday. The Bucs are the league’s hottest team right now, having won six in a row and 11 of their last 12.
“To beat that team would be a good yardstick for us,” Osmond said. “It will be a tough game. They’re on fire, that team.”
