Lake Cowichan Kraken swept by Campbell River in VIJHL 1st round

Lake Cowichan Kraken defender Luke Bennett has earned the VIJHL Mac MacWilliams Memorial Trophy as the 2024-25 season's unsung hero. Bennett was presented with the award by VIJHL president Mark MacDonald at a recent playoff game.

That's right, the playoffs. 

The Kraken had their most successful hockey season to date, advancing to the post-season for the first time in the organization's four-year history.

"The playoff berth was the direct result of hard work and sticktoitiveness by the 20-plus first-year VIJHL players this season," said team owner Harbs Bains.

"Our competitive advantage is the energy the Kraken faithful bring. It's contagious. We have a significant number of fans who travel to our away games. Our players really notice and appreciate that."

With many of the players new to Lake Cowichan and to Vancouver Island, it took some time to settle in early in the year. 

"Our billet families really enhance the experience of our players and building a strong culture is paramount to the success and sustainability of any business or franchise," Bains said. "Our leadership group has really been proactive in helping to create a competitive environment among themselves while building strong relationships with each other." 

As for Bennett, who also scored a goal in his first BCHL game this season with the Surrey Eagles, he has been a stalwart on the Kraken blue-line this season, according to the team, scoring 13 goals — including three game-winning-goals — and adding 13 assists for 26 points this year. 

"He doesn’t play defence in his zone, he patrols it," said the organization in a Facebook post lauding the young defender. "A hard hitting, take-no-prisoners defenceman with a penchant for offence. The Kraken organization is very appreciative of the league’s recognition, via this award, of Luke’s abilities and contributions."

His offence wasn't enough, though and the Kraken had an uphill battle in their first-ever playoff series. Being the lowest seed to enter post-season play, they were pitted against the North Division champion Campbell River Storm in a best-of-seven series for round one.

On Feb. 25 at Rod Brind'Amour Arena, Campbell River showed their scoring prowess in Game 1, beating the Kraken 7-2 in their first-ever playoff game. 

Drury Lamb scored unassisted in the second for the Kraken while Gellert Kiss-Molnar scored from Laroslav Morozov late in the third.

Game 2 saw the Kraken take the Storm to overtime at Cowichan Lake Sports Arena on Feb. 27.

Bennett opened the scoring from Kiss-Molnar less than three minutes into the contest and Aleksander Leonelli added an unassisted goal about six minutes later to carry Lake Cowichan into the first intermission leading 2-0.

Two Storm goals in the second period meant the third period would be crucial. Morozov scored from Logan Walz and Kananga Mangala midway through the third and the team held the lead for seven minutes before Campbell River got the tying goal in the last 40 seconds to force overtime.

The Storm went on to win a heart-breaker 4-3.

Game 3 back in Campbell River on Feb. 28 saw three goals from two Storm scorers and just one from the Kraken in the form of a Charles Fleming goal from Bennett early in the second period.

Down 3-0 in the series, the Kraken fought hard in Game 4 on March 2. Backed by their home ice fans, things were looking good right out of the gate when Mangala scored from Bennett 3:27 into the game. 

Two second-period Storm goals were all the top seed would need to win the game, sending the Kraken not just back to the locker room with a loss, but home to begin their off-seasons with a 4-0 Storm sweep.

The Kraken finished the 2024-25 season with 22 wins and 29 losses for 42 points — three more wins and two more points than their next best season, which was their inaugural season back in 2021-22.

"The year started a bit rough for us," Bains admitted. "The coaches stayed with it and were consistent with their focus. It took some time but our young squad started to develop and gradually the team developed confidence and consistency. We are very proud of our team. While we prepare for the off-season, we look forward to what the 2025-26 season brings."