The Port Alberni Bombers surrendered three third-period goals and dropped a 4-3 decision to Oceanside Generals in Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) play on Saturday night in Port Alberni.
The teams went to the third frame tied at 1-1, and although the Bombers scored two goals of their own in the final period, the Generals did them one better to gain the victory.
Kash Nicklin put the Bombers ahead 1-0 in the first period, scoring his tenth of the season, but Jacob Bate scored for the Generals to tie the contest late in the opening frame.
The score stayed that way until Ryken Lay gave the Generals their first lead at thirty-four seconds of the final stanza, scoring on the power play to give the visitors a lead they would never relinquish.
Kieran McMillan increased the Generals lead to 3-1 just over three minutes later, but the Bombers came back to make it 3-2 on Troy Zajac’s first goal of the season to make things interesting with just under fifteen minutes remaining.
Kaiden Day, who picked up first-star honours, restored the General’s two-goal lead at the thirteen minute mark and while Malik Oliva got the Bombers within one at 4-3 with six seconds remaining, it was too little, too late, as the Bombers home record fell to four wins and three losses on home ice in the 2025-26 VIJHL campaign.
The Generals outshot the Bombers 39-36 on the evening. Oceanside was 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Bombers were 0-for-5.
Port Alberni travels to Mill Bay on Saturday night where they face the winless Kerry Park Islanders. They will play two more road games – in Nanaimo against the Buccaneers on Thursday night and Parksville to face the Generals on Saturday, November 1. They return home on Friday, November 7 to face Kerry Park and Saturday, November 8 when they meet Campbell River Storm. Both those contests start at 7:00 pm at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.
Bombers Fall to Generals
