The Quality Foods Oceanside Generals will open the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League regular season on the road.
The Generals head to Campbell River on Friday night to take on the Storm at the Rob Brind’Amour Arena at 7 p.m. They played against each other during the pre-season with the Generals notching an overtime 5-4 win in Campbell River. But both sides fielded players they hope to add to their respective rosters for the coming season.
It will be a different story when the two teams clash again on Friday night.
The Storm are the defending regular and playoff champions having won the Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy for the second year in a row. They will gun for a threepeat this season.
The Generals are a young team consisting mostly of 16- and 17-year-old players.
Head coach Jesse Hammill is still trying to figure out what the team’s composition would be like on opening day.
“I am trying to get players registered, making so cuts and finalizing that roster,” said Hammill. “It’s been challenging for sure. It’s been a work in progress and will continue to work that way.”
Hammill said is still waiting for some of his veteran players to return. So for now nothing is certain as the club is also dealing with injuries.
“It’s the life of junior hockey,” said Hammill. “Everything changes daily. What you can do is just try to adapt. The team will be what it is this coming Friday.”
The Generals played four pre-season games. Two games were against arch-nemesis Nanaimo Buccaneers, who beat them twice 2-1 and 4-1. They won against the Storm 5-4 and also beat the Comox Valley Glacier Kings 5-2 at Oceanside Place .
Oceanside fans will get the chance to watch the Generals at home when they face the Buccaneers on Saturday night at Oceanside Place at 7 p.m.