Four in a row for the Generals

The new-look Generals are looking good, and Saturday’s home game had a creepy twist.

A week after Oceanside head coach and GM Dave Johnston shook things up by releasing some players and adding four new faces to the lineup, Parksville’s Junior B hockey club looks to have turned the corner.

“For sure,” said third year assistant coach Jason Dubyna, holding the fort while Johnston recovers from a mild stroke. “We’re starting to gain confidence. The guys are starting to realize what they need to do to be successful and they’re being rewarded for the work they’ve put in so far.”

The Gens knocked off the league leading Kerry Park Islanders 3-2 in Mill Bay Thursday night, then extended their win streak to a season-high four games at home Saturday with a 5-2 win over the upstart Saanich Braves.

On a night known for costumes, the Halloween showdown saw the visitors take to the ice wearing the Gens’ road jerseys.

“Their equipment manager forgot to pack their road darks,” OGJHC president Bill McInney explained. “They wanted to use our home whites, but I told them not a chance. We’ll use our new home strips —you can use our old sweaty moth-riddled ones.

“The guys on the bench said it was like an inter-squad game ... being Halloween we just tried to keep the guys focused ... it ended up being a good night for our offense.”

The Braves, who have played more games than any other team at this point in the season, opened the scoring 1:58 into the game. The Generals responded with an onslaught that netted them a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.

The two teams traded goals in the second and Nolan Zarazun iced the win at 15:32 of the third.

Oceanside’s leading scorer Kyle Yamasaki (Kyle Bixby, Nicholas Bell) buried what would prove to be the winner at 15:11 of the first.

Starting ‘tender Braedan Johnson picked up the win in net both nights. Johnson, who this week became the VIJHL top-rated goalie with a GAA of 1.98 in nine games, looks to be getting stronger as the season wears on.

“He’s been playing very well for us — a lot more focused, a lot more sound positionally,” said Dubyna.

This week marks the first time this year the Gens have reached the .500 mark.

  

ICE CHIPS

Nanoose Bay blueliner Nick Bell has been called up to play up for the BCHL Nanaimo Clippers the rest of the season.

GAME ON

The Generals get a rare week to work on their game and return home to ‘The Place Saturday to tangle with the second place (14-2-2) Victoria Cougars.

Puck drops at 7:30 p.m.

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