Ryan Hogg had five points over his first three Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League games last weekend as he helped the Kerry Park Islanders to two wins and an overtime loss.
Hogg, a Cowichan Valley Minor Hockey product who nearly cracked the Cowichan Valley Capitals' full-time roster and who has played four games as an affiliate player, despite not turning 16 until December, set up both goals in a 2-1 road win over the Peninsula Panthers on Friday, notched a powerplay goal and an assist in a 3-2 victory over the Panthers at home on Saturday, and recorded another assist in Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Victoria Cougars.
Hogg's first assist came on Cam Nickerson's powerplay goal in the first period of Friday's game. The Panthers responded with a goal of their own early in the second period, but the Isles quickly restored the lead on Kyle Green's goal, and held on for the win. Leighton Williams was near-perfect, stopping 35 of 36 shots for the win.
On Saturday, Hogg got the Islanders off to a strong start, opening the scoring with a powerplay goal, which was followed later in the first period by Cody Short's even-strength marker.
The Panthers scored 50 seconds into the second period, but rookie Patrick Poets put the Isles ahead by two once again. Peninsula scored again in the third, but the Isles held off their attempts to tie the score.
Ty Rennie made 20 saves in the Kerry Park net, while the Isles blasted Peninsula's goalie with 49 shots.
Hosting the always-powerful Cougars on Sunday, the Isles saw Short open the scoring as the teams traded first-period goals. Kerry Park went ahead in the second when Poets scored at 12:09 and Nick Kean added another one just 35 seconds later. The Cougars tied the score in the third period, then notched the winner 67 seconds into overtime.
Williams was busy in net, facing 47 shots and stopping 43, while the Islanders had just 20 shots on the Victoria net.
Through 12 games, Kerry Park has compiled six wins, four losses and two overtime defeats to sit third in the VIJHL's South Division.
The Isles visit the undefeated Campbell River Storm on Friday, then are home to the Westshore Wolves on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.