The Ballenas Senior Whalers have yet to win a game this season. And with all the teams in the BC High School Football bearing down in the home stretch to the playoffs, the Whalers need one desperately if they want to stay in the hunt in the Western AA Conference.
The Whalers have this chance to do it this weekend when they take on Holy Cross Crusaders at Ballenas Field at 1 p.m. This will be a do-or-die battle for both teams, who are winless so far this season. But both have a slim chance of making it to the playoffs.
“Believe it or not, we still have a playoff opportunity,” said Dan Smith, Whalers head coach. “We have to win our next two football games for sure.”
Achieving that, said Smith, and combining it with the results of the other teams in the conference, the Whalers can put themselves in position to earn a playoff spot.
This weekend, the Whalers might not be in full force as they’ve lost some of their key players to injuries and illness. One of the main players that will be doubtful is quarterback Ben Robinson, who suffered a concussion last week. Junior varsity quarterback Ben Chomolok may have to carry the burden of leading the seniors team this weekend.
Smith said they are simplifying things for Chomolok. “We have to help Ben Chomolok and if we do that, that might just help us,” said Smith, who added that based on the way they finished last Friday against Argyle, the Whalers are going to be confident going up against the Crusaders this weekend.”
— NEWS Staff
Generals face league’s best this weekend in VIJHL play
The Quality Foods Oceanside Generals have been playing .500 hockey in the last two weekends.
That’s the goal, said head coach Jesse Hammill, but it doesn’t have to be that way as he wants the Generals to play consistently well every weekend.
Last Saturday, the Generals had an opportunity to make it a four-point weekend. But they blew that opportunity. Instead the Generals split their games, having won against the Westshore Wolves 5-1 despite not being at their best and the next day dropped a 3-1 decision to the Victoria Cougars.
This coming weekend, the Generals will be facing two of the top teams in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey league, the Campell River Storm on Friday in Campbell River at 7:30 and on Saturday, take on the league leaders, Nanaimo Buccaneers at Oceanside Place at 7 p.m.
The Generals are in third place in the Northern Division behind the Bucaneers and Storm. They have five wins, seven losses and a tie.
— NEWS Staff