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Generals looking for sixth coach in 13 months

Struggling team is looking for their first win on the road
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Goalie Austin Caktas and the Generals look to bounce back from three straight losses last week against the Kerry Park Islanders tonight.

The Save–On–Foods Oceanside Generals are searching for their sixth coach in the last 13 months — Jason Johns resigned last week.

In a move that came after the team had announced that Johns was suspended for seven days, Johns handed in his letter of resignation and gave his 12-week notice, citing personal reasons.

It’s a move that comes just 13 games in to the season, with the Generals sitting last in the North Division with a record of two wins, 11 losses. Johns took over as head coach this off-season after the Generals went through four coaches last season, with an interim coach taking over at one point as well.

“Jason came in here and put his stamp on this team right away, which was great,” GM Lou Gravel said. “As the season started out, things started to go the other way that we had hoped and it was then that it started to get tough, for everyone. At the end of the day, we have nothing but great things to say about Jason Johns and everything that he did for this team during his time here.”

The resignation of Johns adds to a tough week for the Generals, who lost three games last week, the first to the Saanich Braves and two in a row to the Comox Valley Glacier Kings, dropping four straight in total since their 10–3 victory over the winless Peninsula Panthers. Defenseman Chandler Bruyckere was suspended this past weekend and Jarrett Weme has since re-joined the team, both prior to the resignation of Johns.

“It’s been a crazy week, for sure,” Bruyckere said. “There’s been so much going on, both on and off the ice, it was almost too much to keep track of and had the potential to become a big problem. I think that, going forward, things can get better. We’ve got a good group of guys in the locker room and we all want to get better. We have a lot of work to do but I don’t think it’s beyond reach for us at all.”

There will be some more lineup changes this week for the Gens, thanks to injuries. Goaltender David Anderson is out with an ankle injury; Brendan Bilotta and Mathieu Jallabert are still sidelined with injuries as well. Jacob Longmore is close to a return but will be questionable this week, meaning with the holes up front, the Gens have called on three AP’s, forwards Matthew Davis, Ziyan Karim and defenseman Kristofor Zlomislic, for tonight’s game from the Vancouver Chiefs of the B.C. Major Midget League.

The Gens play tonight against the Kerry Park Islanders (6-6) in Mill Bay. Catch the game on 88.5 The Beach, with Dominic Abassi. Saturday, they return home, 7:30 p.m. puck drop, to take on the Victoria Cougars (9–1). The Gens have yet to win a game on the road this season, with both of their wins coming at home.