Oceanside’s Bantam Rep Generals went undefeated in five games and garnered gold in Abbotsford over the spring break.
In action at the Bantam Winter Classic March 22-24 which featured 10 teams in their division, the local squad of 13-15 year olds played five games in three days and posted wins over the Peninsula Eagles (6-3), the Abbotsford Hawks (6-2), the Richmond Blues (3-1) and the Hawks (5-1).
In the tournament final, a hard-fought rematch against the Eagles, Oceanside was leading 3-2 late in the game and added an empty netter with seven seconds left after Peninsula pulled their goalie for a 4-2 final.
“Great team effort with first and second year players all contributing,” Oceanside head coach Don Svensen said after, with extra props for the excellent goal tending by second year goalie Isaac Stevens, who was outstanding in the gold medal game, and rookie female net minder Blayre Paddock, one of two girls on the team including standout D-girl Chloe Cook who made the Female U16 Team.
“It was a lot of hockey,” team manager Heather Svensen confirmed after. “They were definitely exhausted when it was all over.”
The Bantam Generals went into their final tourney of the season having won the Vancouver Island Tier 3 banner, going undefeated in regulation over the regular season at 11-0-1 for tops in their five-team VIHA Bantam Tier 3 league. The banner is at Oceanside Place to be added to the arena ceiling.