Travis Briggs scored both goals and Oceanside’s Save On Foods Generals carved out a tasty 2-1 win over their arch rivals in Comox Wednesday night.
It was the local squad’s final VIJHL game heading into the break.
“That’s a huge win for us ... great Christmas present,” an upbeat Generals’ head coach and GM Dave Johnston said Thursday.
Comox went into the game sitting tops in the North and second overall in the seven-team league at 16-10-3. The Gens are second in the North at 13-14-1 and fourth overall. The win lifts them into a tie for third with Saanich and lifts them 7-3 in their last 10 games.
On Wednesday, the two teams skated to a scoreless tie through the first period-and-a-half.
The reigning North division champs opened the scoring midway through the second period and Briggs evened it up 1-1 when he scored unassisted with 45 seconds left in the frame.
The second-year Gen from Nanaimo notched the game-winner 7:02 into the third period with assists from Taylor Grobowski and Taylor Gray, and was named the games’ second star.
Michael Gudmandson was lights out for Oceanside as he made 32 saves for the win in net and first star honours. Comox outshot Oceanside 33-22 overall.
Key to the win “was goaltending and our commitment to playing plaoff style defensive hockey,” said Johnston.
Oceanside’s penalty kill was perfect as the Gens kept Comox away on all six of their power plays.
With leading scorer Kyle Yamasaki away on vacation, Johnston said “it was huge getting another member of that line contributing offensively.”
ICE CHIPS
VIJHL President Greg Batters told The News this week that a decision on what to do about the third period that had to be cancelled during last week’s game against the Peninsula Panthers at Oceanside Place.
“We’re looking to Hockey Canada for direction,” said Batters, adding, “our league doesn’t have any polices in place dealing with this.”
Some leagues, he explained, have a policy in place wherein if the game is more than half played the team in the lead gets the point.
“What we’re looking at doing, what we’ve discussed, is that these points may not play a part in the overall standings ... we’re going to discuss it at the All-Star game with the other governors and see what direction the league would like to take on this.”
GAME ON
The Generals are back home Jan. 7 against the Campbell River Storm (7:30 p.m. start) for the back end of their home-and-home.