VIJHL

Sporting the Campbell River Storm’s new third jersey that commemorates National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day are two Storm players of First Nations heritage, Wyatt Dumont (left) and Brady Estabrook. The duo and their teammates will be wearing the jerseys on Friday, Sept. 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

Campbell River Storm debut orange jerseys for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

First Nation ownership of the team acknowledges importance of the day

 

Veteran winger Sukhraj Narwal drives into the offensive zone during the Lake Cowichan Kraken’s exhibition game against the Oceanside Generals on Tuesday night. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Cowichan Valley’s jr. B teams start preseason hockey

Lake Cowichan Kraken and Kerry Park Islanders jump into action

 

Oceanside Generals head coach Dan Lemmon. (Submitted photo).

PODCAST: Stepping inside the VIJHL with Oceanside Generals head coach Dan Lemmon

PQBeat: Discussion includes what makes a good coach, today’s players and more

 

Assistant captain Logan Speirs (centre) scored a hat-trick including the winning overtime goal to help the Panthers win the VIJHL title Friday. Captain Riley Braun (left), league MVP and leading scorer, made a crucial save during a Generals power-play late in the game, while his brother Payton, VIJHL rookie of the year, made important contributions throughout the season, including Friday’s game witnessed by 500-plus fans. (Courtesy Christian J. Stewart Photography)

Peninsula Panthers claim VIJHL crown with emotional overtime victory

Victory comes almost four months after death of teammate Grant Gilbertson

Assistant captain Logan Speirs (centre) scored a hat-trick including the winning overtime goal to help the Panthers win the VIJHL title Friday. Captain Riley Braun (left), league MVP and leading scorer, made a crucial save during a Generals power-play late in the game, while his brother Payton, VIJHL rookie of the year, made important contributions throughout the season, including Friday’s game witnessed by 500-plus fans. (Courtesy Christian J. Stewart Photography)
Kerry Park Islanders captain Matt Baird swipes at a bouncing puck during last Saturday’s game at Kerry Park Arena, in which the Peninsula Panthers eliminated the Isles from the VIJHL playoffs. (Todd Blumel photo)

Kerry Park Islanders achieved goal of being hard to play against

‘We had lots of players who played the right way’

Kerry Park Islanders captain Matt Baird swipes at a bouncing puck during last Saturday’s game at Kerry Park Arena, in which the Peninsula Panthers eliminated the Isles from the VIJHL playoffs. (Todd Blumel photo)
Rookie Mateo Sjoberg scored his team-leading eight goal of the playoffs last Saturday as the Kerry Park Islanders were eliminated from the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League playoffs with an overtime loss to the Peninsula Panthers. (Todd Blumel photo)

Kerry Park Islanders bounced from VIJHL playoffs

Isles bow out in 6 games against Peninsula

Rookie Mateo Sjoberg scored his team-leading eight goal of the playoffs last Saturday as the Kerry Park Islanders were eliminated from the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League playoffs with an overtime loss to the Peninsula Panthers. (Todd Blumel photo)
Kerry Park Islanders forward Jackson Egan battles for the puck during his team’s 4-2 loss against the Peninsula Panthers at Kerry Park Arena last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Kerry Park Islanders not rolling over in South Division semifinal

Trailing 3-1, Isles have been holding their own in series

Kerry Park Islanders forward Jackson Egan battles for the puck during his team’s 4-2 loss against the Peninsula Panthers at Kerry Park Arena last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Kerry Park Islanders forward Jackson Egan slips past a Peninsula Panthers defender during last Saturday’s playoff game at Kerry Park Arena. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Kerry Park Islanders even with Peninsula after 2 games

Panthers stun Isles in opener; Isles bounce back in game 2

Kerry Park Islanders forward Jackson Egan slips past a Peninsula Panthers defender during last Saturday’s playoff game at Kerry Park Arena. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Kerry Park Islanders captain Matt Baird celebrates after scoring the eventual game-winner in game 4 of the Isles’ four-game sweep of the Victoria Cougars in the first round of the VIJHL playoffs. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Kerry Park Islanders open 2nd round series at home on Saturday

Isles will face Peninsula Panthers in South Division final

Kerry Park Islanders captain Matt Baird celebrates after scoring the eventual game-winner in game 4 of the Isles’ four-game sweep of the Victoria Cougars in the first round of the VIJHL playoffs. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Kerry Park Islanders forward Brady Estabrook picks up a broom tossed to the ice by a fan on Tuesday after his team swept the Victoria Cougars in the first round of the VIJHL playoffs. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

BRING OUT THE BROOMS! Kerry Park Islanders sweep Victoria Cougars in first round

Fourth-seeded Isles shock South Division regular-season champs

Kerry Park Islanders forward Brady Estabrook picks up a broom tossed to the ice by a fan on Tuesday after his team swept the Victoria Cougars in the first round of the VIJHL playoffs. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
The return of defenceman Jack Parsons has been a huge part of the Kerry Park Islanders’ early playoff success. (Citizen file)

Kerry Park Islanders can clinch series Tuesday

Fourth-seeded Isles shocking Victoria Cougars

The return of defenceman Jack Parsons has been a huge part of the Kerry Park Islanders’ early playoff success. (Citizen file)
Lake Cowichan Kraken forward Aiden Eddy (14) skates past an Port Alberni Bombers player during the VIJHL team’s final home game of the 2021-22 season last Sunday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Gazette)

Lake Cowichan Kraken miss playoffs in debut season

Kraken drop 2 against Alberni down the stretch

Lake Cowichan Kraken forward Aiden Eddy (14) skates past an Port Alberni Bombers player during the VIJHL team’s final home game of the 2021-22 season last Sunday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Gazette)
Kerry Park Islanders captain Matt Baird will lead his team into the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League playoffs later this week. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Kerry Park Islanders prepared for VIJHL playoffs

‘It won’t be for the faint of heart,’ says head coach Cox

Kerry Park Islanders captain Matt Baird will lead his team into the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League playoffs later this week. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Kerry Park forward Kirk Whittaker swipes at the puck in front of Peninsula Panthers goalie Brady Kelly during the Isles’ 6-4 win last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Playoff-bound Kerry Park Islanders top Peninsula in home finale

Logan Walker scores 2, sets up 1

Kerry Park forward Kirk Whittaker swipes at the puck in front of Peninsula Panthers goalie Brady Kelly during the Isles’ 6-4 win last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Port Alberni Bombers forward Gavin Mastrodonato dishes a pass past Lake Cowichan Kraken defender Ethan Toole during a game at the Alberni Valley Multiplex on Feb. 15, 2022. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

VIJHL: Port Alberni Bombers aim for playoff spot with 8-0 win against Lake Cowichan

Final VIJHL playoff spot comes down to a best of three battle

Port Alberni Bombers forward Gavin Mastrodonato dishes a pass past Lake Cowichan Kraken defender Ethan Toole during a game at the Alberni Valley Multiplex on Feb. 15, 2022. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Josh Robins has stopped 72 of 77 shots over the Lake Cowichan Kraken’s last two games. (Kevin Rothbauer/Gazette)

Playoff push hits high gear for Lake Cowichan Kraken

Friday night is Family Night at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena

Josh Robins has stopped 72 of 77 shots over the Lake Cowichan Kraken’s last two games. (Kevin Rothbauer/Gazette)
Kerry Park Islanders captain Matt Baird circles in front of the net during his team’s 3-2 win over the Lake Cowichan Kraken on Tuesday night. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Kerry Park Islanders clinch playoff spot with win over Kraken

Isles lock up one of two wildcard berths

Kerry Park Islanders captain Matt Baird circles in front of the net during his team’s 3-2 win over the Lake Cowichan Kraken on Tuesday night. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Lake Cowichan Kraken forward Mitchell Billings takes a tumble during his team’s 8-2 loss to the Oceanside Generals at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena on Sunday evening. (Kevin Rothbauer/Gazette)

First shutout, then two losses, for Lake Cowichan Kraken

Josh Robins makes 37 saves as Kraken blank Westshore Wolves

Lake Cowichan Kraken forward Mitchell Billings takes a tumble during his team’s 8-2 loss to the Oceanside Generals at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena on Sunday evening. (Kevin Rothbauer/Gazette)
Islanders forward Brady Estabrook fires a shot around a Westshore Wolves player during last Sunday’s game at Kerry Park Arena. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Injuries, suspensions get the best of Kerry Park Islanders

Isles still in good shape for playoff push

Islanders forward Brady Estabrook fires a shot around a Westshore Wolves player during last Sunday’s game at Kerry Park Arena. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Kraken AP Kyler Smith, who recorded a hat trick against the Buccaneers last Thursday, skates around a Nanaimo defender during Sunday night’s game at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena. (Kevin Rothbauer/Gazette)

Lake Cowichan Kraken elevate game in loss to Cougars, earn 2 wins

Best game of the week comes against South Division leaders

Kraken AP Kyler Smith, who recorded a hat trick against the Buccaneers last Thursday, skates around a Nanaimo defender during Sunday night’s game at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena. (Kevin Rothbauer/Gazette)