Generals Take The Victory From Vancouver

Eugene, Ore. -The Eugene Generals (7-6) found themselves in a two goal deficit against the Vancouver Victory (9-7), but rallied to overcome the deficit; winning their second match in two night 6-3.

Tonight’s victory over Vancouver marks the first time, this season, that the Generals have had a winning record.

The Victory started the scoring 5:47 into the first period. Looking for an open player, Victory forward Austin Pilkington worked the puck behind the net. Pilkington made a centering pass through traffic and across the crease. His pass deflected off the skate of a player in front of the net, and found its way through the legs of Generals goaltender Brad Robertson and into the back of the net.

Generals power forward Kyle Kennedy delivered the biggest hit the Lane County Ice Arena has seen; sending a Victory player through the glass. Thanks to the Generals staff, the broken glass was replaced promptly; allowing play to continue.

Following the stoppage of play to replace the broken glass, league leading scorer and Victory player, Avik Bordak scored on a two-on-one breakaway. Bordak sniped the top on the net, beating the glove of Robertson.

The Generals returned to the locker room at the end of the first period down 2-0 to Vancouver.

The Eugene special teams stole the show in the second period.

Vancouver committed two penalties, putting the Generals on a five-on-three power play. Looking for a scoring opportunity, Christian Merritt, seeing an open player, made a centering pass across the crease to Randy Ludwig: Who scored, driving the pass from Merritt into the back of the net.

The Generals scored again, seconds after Ludwig’s goal, on another five-on-three power play.

This time, Justin Huelsman would win a faceoff in front of the Vancouver net. Huelsman passed the puck to, Mission Viejo native, Zak Johnson who fired the puck past, Victory goaltender, Mitch Saviola. Before Saviola had a chance to locate the position of the puck, the lamp was already lit.

After playing 12:42, the Generals scored their third power play goal of the second period.

Realizing Saviola had been giving up rebounds all night, defenseman Michael Johnston parked himself in front of the goal waiting to capitalize on the next rebound. Huelsman fired the puck at the pads of Saviola, who then gave up a big rebound. Johnston recognized Saviola had given up this rebound, and had an easy job of showing the puck the way to the back of the net.

By the end of the second period the Generals had not only taken the lead, but taken the wind out of the Victory’s sails.

The Victory was given their next scoring opportunity when Merritt received a 2:00 minor penalty for tripping.

Joe Bordak won a faceoff in front of the Generals net and passed the puck backwards. Defenseman Kia Farmer, the recipient of J. Bordak’s pass, one-timed the puck from the point over the top of Robertson’s glove; tying the game 3-3.

When Ludwig intercepted a Vancouver pass at center ice, he and Merritt were presented with a breakaway opportunity. Racing towards the net, the two Generals skated down the ice. Ludwig, in control of the puck, sent Merritt a saucer pass over the sticks of the Vancouver defense. After connecting with Ludwig’s pass, and catching Saviola out of position, Merritt had the easy job of burying the puck into the back of the net.

Less than one minute later, Kirby Carlson interrupted a Victory pass by entering the puck's intended passing lane. This interruption resulted in a Victory turnover to Carlson, who gave the puck a quick wrist shot past the glove of Saviola.

The Generals final goal of the game came while the team was shorthanded, and the Victory had pulled their goalie to give themselves a two-man advantage. Ludwig capitalized on a Victory turnover, skated to center ice, and let loose; shooting the puck half way down the ice and into the Victory's empty net.

When all was said and done, the Generals prevailed on the night; winning the game 6-3. The Generals victory forced their record to 7-6, giving the team a winning record and allowing the player to feel confident in their hard work.

The Generals next game is Saturday, Nov. 19, when they play the Southern Oregon Spartans for the second time this week. The Spartans will travel to Eugene to face the Generals at the Lane County Ice Arena. The puck hits the ice at 7:35 p.m.

For more information:
Jackson Phillips, Director of Public Relations, Eugene Generals
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
541-359-4154 Ext. 207 (office)
510-862-7174 (cell)