Oceanside Generals forward Jacob Thomas will continue his hockey career, joining the University of Jamestown men’s hockey team next school year.
The Campbell River native has committed to the Jimmies, playing in the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association in North Dakota.
Thomas led the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League Generals in scoring in the 2023-24 season and was fifth overall in the league, 36 goals and 30 assists for 66 points. He was named the Generals’ most valuable player and top forward.
The Jimmies indiated they are excited for Thomas to join them this fall.
Meanwhile, Generals general manager Rick Hannibal has been named the VIJHL executive of the year for the second consecutive year.
READ MORE: VIJHL’s Oceanside Generals plan to build new $300K dressing room
The Generals will be rebuilding this coming season with a myriad of changes coming.
A new coaching staff will soon be selected for the 2024-25 season. Generals head coach Dan Lemmon, after five seasons leading the club, stepped down at the end of the season along with assistant coaches Max Creighton and Parker Wakaruk.
The club will also be building a state-of-the-art dressing room just behind the penalty boxes at the Howie Meeker Arena at Oceanside Place. The Regional District of Nanaimo endorsed the project and provided the Oceanside Generals Hockey Society $250,000 toward the project.
The project, which will cost more than $300,000, will feature 28-stall dressing room, offices, showers, training and lounge areas for players. The work is expected to be completed by the end of summer this year.