Landon Dziadyk scored a breakaway goal in overtime to spark the Quality Foods Oceanside Generals to a 3-2 win over the Comox Valley Glacier Kings in their Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season home opener at Oceanside Place on Saturday night.
The 18-year-old from Qualicum Beach snared the puck from the Glacier Kings’ zone and sprinted towards the opposite end with only Comox Valley goalie Matt Henwood to beat. Dziadyk went five hole against his former Generals teammate, sending the puck rolling into the net at 2:34 of OT to lift the partisan crowd of around 400 out of their seats, cheering loudly in excitement.
It was the second goal of the night for Dziadyk, who was awarded the first star of the game.
The Generals kept the game close despite giving up a goal at 6:49 in the first period. Kyle Boshier tied it up at 11:28 to square things at 1-1.
In the second period, the Generals weren’t effective offensively as they found themselves on the defensive end, killing penalties. They paid for the infractions when the Glacier Kings scored a power play goal to regain the lead and closed the period with a 2-1 edge. It also ended the Generals’ streak of 22 consecutive penalty kills.
The Generals bounced back in the third and shocked the Glacier Kings with a quick goal, netted by Dziadyk, unassisted, 11 seconds into the period. Following that, the Glaciers Kings lost a bit of their composure, getting into penalty situations. The Generals had five power-play opportunities, including a 5-on-3, but failed to capitalize and wrapped up regulation tied 2-2.
In the four-on-four overtime period, coach Jesse Hammill said, they weren’t going to settle for a tie. They wanted the win and they finally got it on Dziadyk’s goal.
“I told them to chip away, chip away and these guys don’t quit,” said Hammill. “I think this is the first home opener that we’ve won in a long time. And to do it in that kind of fashion, the way they did in front of a really good crowd, was great.”
Goaltender Aaron Jakubowski had another stellar game between the pipes, stopping 35 of 37 shots to earn the third star of the night and record his first win of the season.
Defenceman Erik Hanus also played a key role in frustrating the Glacier Kings’ offense and was named the second star of the night.
Saturday night’s win was a good comeback for the Generals, who on the previous night, Friday, Sept. 15, were edged 5-4 by Saanich Braves in a match that was marred by 18 penalties. After trailing 4-0 in the first period, the Generals had to claw their way back into the match but just fell short. Jared Winkel, Andre Sutter, Lucas Vanrobuys and Max Creighton scored for the Generals.
Marching On: The Generals were 1-for-9 in power plays against the Braves and were 0-for-7 against the Glacier Kings… the Generals play their next game at home Sept. 24 at 2:30 against the Peninsula Panthers… forward Brandon Roberge was traded to the Nanaimo Buccaneers for Ethan Trampuh… Vanrobuys suited for the Nanaimo Clippers on Saturday night and didn’t play against the Glacier Kings.