NEW SEASON: More than 800 people packed Oceanside Place on Saturday night as the Oceanside Generals hosted the Nanaimo Buccaneers in the Generals’ home opener, kicking off the team’s 23rd season in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. Above, Parksville-Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell takes care of the ceremonial faceoff with Generals’ captain Travis Flug, left, and Nanaimo captain Noah Russi, right (both captains, incidentally, are from Parksville). The game had free admission, thanks to the Generals’ major sponsor, Save-On-Foods. Nanaimo scored four goals in the third period to win the game 6-4. See more coverage of the opening weekend for the Generals in our sports section today. The next home game for the Gens is Sunday at 2:30 p.m. against the Peninsula Panthers.