The Oceanside Generals ended their record-setting season with a win, claiming bronze at the B.C. Junior B championship in Revelstoke. (Gus Galloway Photography)

By Ian Holmes

big season

‘It was a valuable experience for us:’ Oceanside Generals bring home bronze medal from Cyclone Taylor Cup

Apr 17, 2023 | 1:49 PM

NANAIMO — It wasn’t the colour of medal they initially wanted, but the reigning VIJHL champion Oceanside Generals won their last game of the season and look to continue building momentum heading into next fall.

Oceanside secured a bronze medal at the Cyclone Taylor Cup with a well-earned 4-2 win over the Delta Ice Hawks in Revelstoke on Sunday, April 16.

Generals’ head coach Dan Lemmon said they started the tournament in a good spot last Thursday night with a 5-1 win over the eventual provincial champion Revelstoke Grizzlies.

“Then we dropped two games (Delta & Kimberley) and if you want to be in the gold medal game you can’t drop two in a row at that tournament. I thought our kids showed a lot of heart, will and determination to win the bronze medal.”

Slick 17-year-old rookie winger Dante Paziuk’s second period goal, his fourth of the tournament, was the eventual game-winner in the bronze medal game at the four-team provincial junior B championship.

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Nolan Kehoe, Brayden Ross and Ben Groome also scored for Oceanside on Sunday, while Ashton Sadauskas made 29 saves for the Parksville based Generals.

“It’s a valuable experience for us to take into the next season and hopefully get back there. We’ve got a great returning core. If we get everybody back we’re looking at a team that can take another run,” Lemmon said.

The Oceanside Generals moments after receiving their bronze medals on Sunday, April 16. (Gus Galloway Photography)

Reflecting on what was a break-through season for the community run Generals, Lemmon said their players, staff, volunteers and fans have a lot to be proud of.

He said their program has taken gradual, calculated steps forward on and off the ice in recent years.

“I just think our program has really been growing over the last five years, we’re really efficient at what we do, we know what we want to do and we execute it.”

Oceanside went 12-3 in the VIJHL playoffs, including a hard-fought six game series win over the Saanich Predators.

The Generals consistently drew more than 1,000 fans to Howie Meeker Arena at Oceanside Place during its playoff triumphs over Port Alberni, Campbell River and finally Saanich.

“Oceanside Generals hockey has never been at a higher point in terms of the number of fans, amount of buzz and winning…the product on the ice and recruiting is getting a lot better,” Lemmon said.

Oceanside set a franchise record 41-3-4 regular season, including a league record 27 game winning streak.

The team is hosting its year-end banquet on Wednesday night, prior to spring camp taking place in Parksville on the weekend of April 29-30.

Players celebrated on ice for the last time this season after winning bronze on Sunday, April 16. (Gus Galloway Photography)

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