Skip to content

Oceanside Generals dominate with 6-2 win over Predators in Game 1 of VIJHL final

Oceanside outshoots Saanich 56-21 in first game of championship at Howie Meeker Arena

The Oceanside Generals dominated Game 1 of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League final with a rousing 6-2 win against the visiting Saanich Predators at Howie Meeker Arena at Oceanside Place, Wednesday night, (March 29).

It was another hurdle cleared by the Generals in their quest to achieve the bitter unfinished business they left from last season when they lost Game 6 in the final against the Peninsula Panthers. The goal this season is to win the VIJHL title.

“I think tonight was our best game in the playoffs so far so that gives me some satisfaction, a little bit … of reassurance I think going in,” said head coach Dan Lemmon. “But every game is going to be different and it’s just one game. I think our team was happy to get to the finals last season. This year expectations are to win, so it’s a different beast this year in our mindset. We also have the experience from last year and I think that kind of showed today and we’re going to need to shine through all the way.”

The Generals’ aggressive forechecking was the difference as they kept most of the play in the Predators’ zone. After giving up two goals to end the first period tied 2-2, the Generals’ game shifted to another level that the Predators were unable to match. They out-shot Saanich 56-21.

“I thought we came out with a purpose and we weren’t hesitant,” said Lemmon. “One thing we regretted from last season as they came out in the first three games they looked like they were afraid to make a mistake. I don’t think that was the case tonight. We were ready to go as we should be at home with the season that we’ve had. I thought we took it to them for the most part. That’s a good team over there.”

The first period was close. The Generals grabbed the lead on Jacob Thomas’ goal at 4:36. But their momentum was halted when the Generals took a costly penalty past the midway mark that saw the Predators tie it up 1-1 on Colten Thompson’s marker. The Generals took another penalty late in the period but were able to regain the lead on Tyler Gyori’s breakaway shorthanded goal at 17:16 unassisted. The Predators again bounced back with Sean Pandher evening things up. Lemmon said that was partly his fault.

READ MORE: Oceanside Generals clinch VIJHL North Division title, stopping Storm 5-4 in double OT

“I might have made a mistake on the bench when we left four guys out there,” said Lemmon. “That one was on me and I told the kids that was an error. That was an error that was a pretty rookie move on my behalf and on the staff’s behalf. But mistakes happen. Nobody is mistake free at any level of hockey, whether it’s coaching or with these kids. But we battled back really well from that.”

In the next two periods the Generals went into overdrive on both ends, securing four goals while limiting the Predators to just 11 shots and shutting them out. Brendan Carlson, Nolan Kehoe, Tyson Pauze and Miles Carson each scored for the Generals.

The Generals will be preparing for Game 2, which shifts to Saanich on April 1 at 6:30 p.m. Lemmon expects the Predators to make adjustments in their game. But he said the Generals will be ready and can’t afford to be complacent.

“We just have to remind ourselves of what last year felt like,” said Lemmon. “And that’s a good way of doing it.”

Michael.briones@pqbnews.com

www.facebook.com



Michael Briones

About the Author: Michael Briones

I rejoined the PQB News team in April 2017 from the Comox Valley Echo, having previously covered sports for The NEWS in 1997.
Read more