Kerry Park Islanders get another kick at the can at home Saturday night, Jan. 17 and, following a pair of losses last weekend, club owner Mark Osmond is hoping the guys bring their A game.
The Isles were outplayed 4-1 by the Saanich Braves at home Saturday and then were outgunned 8-6 by Oceanside Generals in Parksville in a penalty-filled encounter that included a slugfest after the whistle at the end of the second period.
"I don't want to talk to you too much about the weekend. We lost Saturday night and we also lost Sunday, too. It's been a grim 2015 so far for our team," Osmond said Monday.
Asked if a few of the players seemed sluggish from the get-go Saturday, Osmond agreed.
"You had half the team firing and the other half not putting the effort in and it's showing," he said, adding that it's time for the players to step up.
"We have to just try and motivate some of these kids and get them to perform like
they're meant to. We've given them the platform. We've given them the training, the coaching. Now it's up to them," he said.
Saanich really looked up for the game Saturday night and were able to deal with whatever Kerry Park could bring against them.
"It was a big game. It was third versus fourth. Now they're third and we're fourth," Osmond said. "They wanted it. They're a hard working team. I wish some of our players would have fed off that. Because when you've got half the team playing like that and half not, it's hard to play against a team that does it every line, every shift."
Now, the Isles are preparing for a game Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. against Westshore.
"It's another big game. And it's Hockey Day in Canada, too," Osmond said.
"We're having some of the initiation kids come out between the first and second period to have a mini game in our game. And during the day, I think there is a bantam A and a midget A game before us. So, come out to Kerry Park and watch it all."