Four games into the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season, the Kerry Park Islanders are still looking for their first win of the year.
The Isles had a busy stretch last week, playing three games in four days, with steadily improving scoring totals, but continue to sit at the bottom of the South Division standings early on.
Last Thursday, the Isles travelled to Nanaimo, where they lost 6-1 to the Buccaneers. On Saturday, they lost 7-2 to the Saanich Braves at Kerry Park Arena. And on Sunday, they were defeated 7-3 by the Westshore Wolves at Juan de Fuca Arena.
On Thursday, the Bucs were up 2-0 before Cole Amado got the Isles on the board at 16:18 of the second period. Nanaimo then went on to score four more in the third. Dylan Wilson stopped 24 of 30 shots in the losing effort, while the Isles had 20 shots on the Nanaimo net, 19 of which were turned aside by Austin Dendl.
Back at home two days later, the Isles trailed the Braves 3-0 before Reid Fitzpatrick scored a powerplay goal for Kerry Park at 18:39 of the first period. Saanich still had enough time to score one more in the first, then added two in the second and one in the third before Noah Hirst scored his first goal for Kerry Park. Nick Haisell stopped 36 of 43 shots for the Isles, while Alfie Duncan made 27 saves on 29 shots.
Sunday’s game saw the Wolves score five times in the first. Kerry Park veteran Riley Windsor responded with two in the second, including one on the powerplay. The Wolves scored two more in the third, one on either side of Fitzpatrick’s powerplay marker. Wilson started in the Kerry Park net and allowed five goals on 14 shots, and Haisell came in for the second and third and stopped 23 of 25. Former Shawnigan Lake School prep goalie Dalan Marleau stopped 22 of 25 in the Westshore end.
The Isles have just one game next weekend as they host the Victoria Cougars on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.