The Kerry Park Islanders junior A team kicked of 2025 with a bang, outscoring their opponents 13-3 over two games in two days.
On Jan. 3 in a game in Campbell River against the Storm, the Isles shut out the North Division leaders 4-0 before skating to a 9-3 barn-burner win at home the following night against the Port Alberni Bombers.
Against the Storm, VIJHL top points-scorer Carson Brown got Kerry Park on the board in the first period and the Isles carried that lead into the second. Brody Lindal and Matson Waring both added goals late in the second to extend the lead and Jobey Pearson wrapped the scoring up early in the third to give the Islanders a 4-0 lead. Ethan Barron shut the door for Kerry Park, saving all 46 shots faced to earn his first shutout of the season and the game's first-star honours.
The following night at home, the Isles gave their fans an early show, scoring seven of their nine total goals within the game's first 14 minutes.
Lindal book-ended the first with goals at 1:01 and 13:26 of the opening frame but Jacob Morrison led the way, completing a hat-trick before the period's halfway mark.
Rylan Davis and Bryce Kohler also scored in the first. Bryce Burnett added another goal in the second before Ben Stocks capped off the scoring parade with a goal in the third for the 9-3 win.
Ethan Taylor cast aside 33 of 36 shots on goal to become the second Ethan in as many nights to get the win between the pipes for the Isles.
It was a celebratory evening for more than just the victory, as the game also marked the 100th game for assistant captains Brown and Stocks.
The weekend was also bittersweet, however, as the team played without Cameron Lott, Beckham Lazaro, Kalan Dickie, Max Carlson and Finlay Klippenstein.
Lott and Lazaro were traded to the Victoria Cougars for the speedy forward Kyler Smith, of Ladysmith, and Dickie was sent to the Comox Valley Glacier Kings in exchange for defender Justin Pichor.
Carlson was called up to the BCHL's Victoria Grizzlies for the weekend and on Jan. 2, the team said goodbye to Klippenstein, who has signed with the BCHL's Nanaimo Clippers for the remainder of the season.
Up next for the streaking Isles is a Jan. 10 road-trip to Lake Cowichan to face the Kraken before welcoming the Westshore Wolves to Kerry Park Arena on Jan. 11. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
