Kyle Yamasaki has retaken the lead for scoring on the local junior hockey team — he is also the only General in the top 10 in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League in scoring at ninth (15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points in 23 games).
The 20 year old right winger from Nanaimo is in his fourth season with the VIJHL’s Oceanside Generals, and the veteran winger with the good hands did his bit recently with four goals and a helper over two games including three power play markers in one period against the Kerry Park Islanders.
Asked his take on the special (team) hat trick, Yamasaki confirmed, “that’s never happened before,” then conceded while Lady Luck may have had her hand in the rare hockey happenstance, “it felt good.”
Gens’ bench boss Dave Johnston says he can’t recall ever seeing a player score a power play hat trick in one period in his many years of coaching, but did add, “it doesn’t surprise me.”
“We can’t ask for more,” he said. “’Yammers is just the same every game, and that’s the biggest compliment you can give any athlete. He’s definitely part of that leadership core.”
Yamasaki finished last season second on the team in scoring with 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 50 games played, the second most on the team.
It was Kyle’s first hat trick of the season, but certainly not his only one as a General, in fact it occurred to us he just may be the all-time scoring leader for Oceanside.
“I would think he probably is, no question,” Johnston said when asked, “I mean he’s been a prolific scorer for us since he arrived here, so I would say he very likely is.”
GAME ON
The Generals are home Saturday (7:30 p.m. start) to take on the first place Victoria Cougars.