After a tight, one-goal game devolved into a 5-1 loss to Sooke Saturday morning, Oceanside Midget Generals hockey coach Clinton Sutherland could only shrug.
“That was good, old-fashioned running out of gas,” he said.
The midgets got off to a rousing start in last weekend’s Alberni Remembrance Day tournament, opening with a 9-4 romp over Richmond despite playing with just 10 healthy skaters.
But that lack of depth came back to bite the team as it tackled three games in 24 hours — and one of the skaters left due to a work commitment.
Normally, the midgets would have the option of calling up affiliate players from the Oceanside Minor Hockey midget recreation teams, and/or from the Bantam rep Generals. But the rec midgets were hosting their own 18-team tournament at Oceanside Place Arena through the weekend, while the rep bantams were traveling for yet another tournament in the greater Victoria area.
Returning to the Weyerhaeuser Arena ice a few hours after the loss to Sooke, the Generals gave a game effort against Kerry Park before falling 4-2 to wrap up the tourney with a 1-2 record.
“When they needed a push, there was nothing there,” said Sutherland.
Christian Stokes, right, and the Oceanside Midget Generals are in action this Saturday at Oceanside Place Arena. — Image credit: J.R. Rardon/PQB NEWS
A second-period goal by Duncan Cairns tied the game with Sooke 1-1, but the T-birds went ahead on a power-play goal at 14:06 of the second period. The 2-1 margin held until Sooke poured in three goals over the final four minutes against the flagging Generals.
In Friday’s opener against Richmond, Jose Hope poured in four goals, Jimmy Schworan and Michael Stewart had two goals each and Christian Stokes added one.
Cairns and Stewart chipped in three assists each.
Stokes and Michael Stewart each had a goal and an assist in Saturday’s loss to Kerry Park.