The CR No 1 Auto Body Bantam A Tyees started their quest for the Tier 2 Island title when they visited the Oceanside Generals on Saturday in their first game of the North Island playoffs.
The Tyees controlled much of the play in the first period and a half but ran into a hot Oceanside goaltender and found themselves in a 1-1 tie at the ice clean with not a lot of puck luck for the local boys. Campbell River’s Gavin Rauser scored the Tyees goal on a nice passing play with linemates Grady McInnes and Domenic Kolbeins.
But things turned around and the Tyees came out fast after the ice clean and were finally rewarded for their hard work. Rauser hit a streaking McInnes at centre ice and he raced down the right wing and buried a wrist shot between the goalie’s legs. McInnes tallied his second goal shortly after his first as Kolbeins threaded a nice pass from behind the net to him in front of the net.
The Tyees kept up the determined effort in the third period and soon scored their fourth goal when Austin Simper’s persistent forechecking forced a loose puck which he passed out to Kolbeins in the slot who made no mistake. Travis Goodwin set up James Severs for the fifth goal and Rio Masse finished off the scoring when he banged home a rebound from a Jaret Knowles slapshot.
The defence core of Mitchell Stapley, Devyn Grant, Kurtis Scriba and Joe Gage moved the puck well and were solid as they limited the number of quality scoring chances on Tyees goalie Nathan Hoff en route to a 6-1 victory.
The Tyees have two home games this weekend as Port Alberni visits Saturday for a 4 p.m. match and Sunday Powell River visits for an 11 a.m. game.