The Oceanside Generals and Nanaimo Buccaneers are battling neck and neck for the top spot in the VIJHL's North Division. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Dan Marshall

Leading the North

Generals and Buccaneers battle for North Division lead in the VIJHL

Dec 6, 2025 | 9:01 AM

NANAIMO — The two mid-island teams in the VIJHL are leading the pack in the North Division as the season enters the second half.

The first-place Oceanside Generals have a 16-9-1 record while the second-place Nanaimo Buccaneers are 15-9-1.

General’s coach Garret Dunlop said he saw a group of players willing to buy into a team concept right from the start of training camp.

“Our top guys are willing to block shots and there’s no real first, second, third or fourth line. Any player can play in any situation and we’ve got three really good goalies who can step up any night. It’s a fully committed team as well as the staff.”

Tyler Gow is the Buccaneers coach and he also stressed how having a cohesive group has fueled his team’s success.

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“We have a lot of focus on our room and trying to keep it a positive environment where guys like coming to the rink, working hard and putting in a good effort at practice. If guys are enjoying the game and coming to the rink and wanting to get better and wanting to be there I think that’s a huge step forward.”

The two clubs have played three times in the first half of the season with Nanaimo winning two out of three.

They will also have an additional three meetings after Christmas.

Gow said the head-to-head games are very special.

“It’s very good. Both teams compete hard and know what’s at stake. They have a team that competes really well and it can go any way with them depending who shows up. It’s a very tight division with some good teams which keeps our team sharp. We need go into every game like it’s a playoff game.”

Last season the Generals and Buccaneers were the bottom clubs in the North Division with Oceanside already surpassing their 12 win total from a year ago and Nanaimo one victory shy of their 2024-25 total of 16.

Dunlop said his club has been consistently building and getting better.

“It’s all the players who are buying in to one another, they’re all playing for each other, and it’s really nice to see the camaraderie amongst the group that they want to go to battle for each other every night. You see it with people laying their body on the line, going for 50/50 pucks or simply blocking shots like they’ve done from the get-go.”

The VIJHL’s holiday break is fast approaching with the Generals having six more games before Christmas and the Buccaneers playing five.

The new year will start with another head to head battle on Saturday Jan. 3 at Oceanside Place.

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