The Quality Foods Oceanside Generals got blown away 4-1 by the Campbell River Storm in Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League action Sunday (Nov. 28) at Oceanside Place.
The loss ended the Generals’ four-game win streak. Prior to their game against the Storm, the Generals beat the Peninsula Panthers 4-3 on the road (Nov. 26), and sank the Nanaimo Buccaneers 3-1 at home.
Sunday’s game was a battle between the top two teams in the North Division. The Storm lead the division as well as the league with 22 wins, two losses and two overtime losses. The Generals trail behind at 17-7-1.
The Generals’ strong offence, averaging close to 50 shots a game in their last four games, was nullified by the Storm’s solid defence in the neutral zone and also their aggressive forechecking. They ended up being outshot 33-25.
It was the Storm that scored first. Cody Savey fired a shot that Generals goalie Aaron Kaner initially blocked but the puck bounced over his head and landed behind him before rolling into the net.
In the second, the Generals paid dearly for undisciplined play as it led to another Storm goal by Jalen Price to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Generals finally got one back early in the third from a solo effort by Carter Johnson to make it 2-1. But the momentum was quickly halted when the Storm scored again a minute later to make it 3-1.
The Generals pulled the goalie late in the period but it was the Storm that ended up scoring an empty-netter to seal the game at 4-1.
Both teams are scheduled to meet again just before the Christmas break, with the Storm hosting the Generals on Dec. 19 at Rod Brind’Amour Arena at 4:30 p.m.
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Earlier last week, the Generals stopped the No. 2-ranked team in the South Division, the Panthers. It was a hard-fought win for the Generals who despite firing 48 shots only scored three goals. They were also trailing 3-1 going into the final frame. They scored two late goals by Jacob Thomas and Carter Johnson to tie it up and force the match into OT. Neither team was able to score in extra time and the winner was settled via shootout with Johnson netting the winning goal for the Generals. The other scorer for the Generals was Evan Dyce.
On Nov. 27, the Generals hosted the Buccaneers and they again dominated offensively, launching 51 shots. But again they were only able to score three goals, all in the final frame.
After giving up power play goal to the Buccaneers, the Generals went all out and close to the midway mark, Brett Arnett scored a power play goal and a minute later Jacob made it 2-1. The Generals got an insurance goal from Johnson to earn a 3-1 win.
ICE CHIPS: The Generals hit the road on Wednesday, Dec. 1 to take on the Port Alberni Bombers at the Alberni Valley Multiple at 7 p.m. Then on Saturday, (Dec. 4), they host the South Division’s top team, the Victoria Cougars at Oceanside Place at 7 p.m. The Generals play another home game on Sunday (Dec. 5) when they host the Kerry Park Islanders at 7 p.m... Trey Bolan was named defensive player of the week in the North Division.