PARKSVILLE — An organization once nowhere near competitive has solidified a culture of excellence.
Having secured its first VIJHL championship since 2009 last season, the Parksville based Oceanside Generals are expected to be a force to be reckoned with during the 2023/24 campaign.
A third consecutive trip to the league championship series is certainly within reach.
With just three forward lines dressed for Oceanside’s regular season opener, the Generals managed a 4-1 victory on Wednesday night over the Westshore Wolves at Juan de Fuca Arena.
“It’s nice to get the first early win this season,” head coach Dan Lemmon told NanaimoNewsNOW. “We’ve got a tough test in our home opener on Saturday against the Victoria Cougars, a team that’s expected to be one of the top teams in the South Division this year as they have in the past.”
Coach Lemmon is expecting a short bench once again Saturday, Sept. 16 versus the Cougars at 7 p.m. In front of what’s expected to be a sizable crowd at Howie Meeker Arena.
Lemmon anticipates they’ll gradually build up to a full roster over the next few weeks as training camps elsewhere likely lead to a trickle-down.
On paper, this year’s Generals roster is strong.
Five returning 20-year-olds are slated to be key contributors, including reliable defencemen Brady Van Herk and Tyson Pauze.
A trio of 20-year-old veteran forwards, Jacob Thomas, Brayden Ross and Nolan Wyatt who’re all from Campbell River, will be heavily leaned on up front.
Highly regarded rookie goaltender Marc Samyn, 18, from Winnipeg, MB stopped a combined 65 of 66 shots in 60 minutes of exhibition action and the season opening win.
While several key pieces have moved on from last year’s team which helped orchestrate a phenomenal 41 regular season victories, Lemmon, general manager Rick Hannibal and the rest of the Generals brass aren’t interested in taking a step back.
“In junior hockey I don’t believe you need to really ever have a rebuild, you just have to keep re-tooling,” Lemmon said. “Winning is a culture that’s built in your locker room — we’ve worked on that over the last couple years.”
Lemmon said their veteran players will be essential in establishing and reinforcing how the team conducts itself on and off the ice to help guide their 13 first year players.
“It’s one thing to say what to do and it’s another thing to do it, that’s something we’ve been stressing with our veterans. There’s going to be a learning process that occurs here in this first month with some new players to make sure people aren’t uncomfortable and asking questions.”
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