The Oceanside Generals remain perfect early in the 2023-24 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season.
Oceanside moved to 2-0 on the year with a 7-5 win over the visiting Victoria Cougars Saturday at Oceanside Place.
Jacob Thomas, Brayden Ross and Kane Law led the defending league champs with two goals apiece, while Zaya Morro added a single.
Grayson Erickson chipped in with two assists, while Marc Samyn picked up the netminding win, making 42 saves.
Noah Edstrom, Ben Brant, Ryan Donovan, Ethan Rowarth and Nick Scott scored for the Cougars, with Rowyn Davis taking the loss in goal, making 30 saves on 37 shots.
READ MORE: Generals open VIJHL season with 4-1 victory over Westshore Wolves
Victoria came out strong in the first period, outshooting the Generals 22-9, but Samyn held firm and the score was tied at 2-2 after 20 minutes.
Scott opened the scoring just 23 seconds in. Ross pulled Oceanside even at 5:44, with Edstrom restoring the lead at 11:18 and Law’s power-play goal at 13:56 knotting things at 2-2.
Goals from Brant and Donovan gave Victoria a 4-2 lead late into the second period but Morro and Ross scored 11 seconds apart in the last minute of the period to make it 4-4 heading into the third.
Thomas (2) and Law tallied in the final frame to put the game away at 7-4, before Rowarth tallied late to round out the scoring.
The Generals were 2-for-4 on the power play, with the Cougars scoreless on two attempts.
Oceanside sits tied atop the VIJHL’s North Division at 2-0-0, along with the Campbell River Storm. The Gens return to action with a home-and-home set versus the Port Alberni Bombers. The teams meet Friday in Port Alberni, with the rematch Saturday (7 p.m.) at Oceanside Place.
— NEWS Staff
