The Oceanside Generals have two weeks left in their best regular season in franchise history. The 48 game VIJHL regular season schedule wraps up on Feb. 24. (Island Images Photography)

By Dan Marshall

Record Setting Campaign

Oceanside Generals put finishing touches on historic VIJHL regular season

Feb 18, 2023 | 5:55 AM

PARKSVILLE — The Oceanside Generals are on the top of the mountain not just on Vancouver Island but in all of Junior B hockey in B.C.

With a record of 38-3-2-2, Oceanside has clinched first place in the VIJHL standings and they have the highest winning percentage of any provincial team, which also includes Junior B leagues in the Lower Mainland and Interior.

With three games left in the regular season Generals coach Dan Lemmon is focused on what lies ahead rather than the many accomplishments of the regular season.

“The only thing that matters this season is winning playoffs for us, so that’s where the focus is and once we’re all said and done here that’s when you can have time to look back on some of the achievements in the regular season and be proud of it.”

In the historic 2022-23 season, Oceanside set new team records for both wins and points.

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Following a 6-3 win over Nanaimo on Thursday, Feb. 16, they are also on a league-record 20 game winning streak which eclipsed the previous mark of 18.

“To break that win streak for the league I’m super happy for the boys,” Lemmon said. “We’ve been finding ways to win games, especially in third periods. We’ve had some tight contests and we always manage to find a way to win.”

Oceanside wrapped up the VIJHL’s regular season crown in early February and Lemmon wants the group to dial in on taking their game to another level.

“The job’s not done yet. I told the kids that at the end of the day, if we don’t win the playoffs, it’s going to be a disappointing year for everyone here. That’s where the mindset’s got to be for our club.”

Carter Johnson is running away with the VIJHL scoring race through the 2022/23 season, scoring at a goal per game pace. (Island Images Photography)

Offensively, both the Generals and VIJHL are led by second year forward Carter Johnson. The Winnipeg product has 40 goals in as many games and leads all skaters with 95 points.

Johnson has a 20 point buffer on the next highest scorer.

Even defensively, Oceanside lead the way.

The 101 goals against heading into a home game against Port Alberni on Saturday, Feb. 18 is comfortably a league-best number, while two of the team’s blueliners are among the top 20 league scorers.

Brendan Carlson and Brady Van Herk sit 8th and 9th in the rankings respectively.

Carlson told NanaimoNewsNOW the group is sticking to a game plan, executing every night and the results have come as a result.

“We really know to play as a team and win together. We have a very tight group and when we all play together, work hard together, do what we’ve been taught…everything clicks and it just seems to work. It’s how we’ve won games of late, playing as a team, no selfishness out there.”

Carlson added his success individually is owed to a complete team effort.

“It all starts up front with our forwards getting (the puck) back to us, creating some offence there. All six of our defenceman can create offence, we’ve been finding shots, getting through into lanes and the forwards end up putting the puck in for us as well.”

Oceanside will host either Port Alberni or Lake Cowichan for game one of the playoffs in early March.

The other series will see Campbell River and Comox also battle for a spot in the North Division final.

— with files from Kyle Ireland and Alex Rawnsley

Brendan Carlson, a Nanaimo product, leads all VIJHL defencemen in scoring while also contributing to a league-best goals against number. (Island Images Photography)

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