VIJHL

Cody Carlson has taken over as head coach and general manager of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s Saanich Predators. (Photo courtesy of Saanich Predators)

Saanich Predators name new coach and general manager

Cody Carlson takes over from Brent Polischuk as Jr. B hockey team’s head coach, GM

Cody Carlson has taken over as head coach and general manager of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s Saanich Predators. (Photo courtesy of Saanich Predators)
The Peninsula Panthers, here in action on the road against the expansion Port Alberni Bombers, played four games in six days in the past week. This game ended in a 4-3 loss, after the Panthers led the Bombers 3-0. (Photo by Kaicee Trott)

Peninsula Panthers round out busy week with win over Saanich Predators

Panthers lose two close games vs. Comox Valley, watch 3-0 lead dissolve in Port Alberni

The Peninsula Panthers, here in action on the road against the expansion Port Alberni Bombers, played four games in six days in the past week. This game ended in a 4-3 loss, after the Panthers led the Bombers 3-0. (Photo by Kaicee Trott)
Theodore St. Denis had one goal and one assist as the Peninsula Panthers defeated the Nanaimo Buccaneers 6-0 Friday at Panorama Recreation Centre. The Panthers then beat the Kerry Park Islanders 5-4 Saturday night on the right. (Photo courtesy of the Peninsula Panthers)

Peninsula Panthers on the right edge with two victories over the weekend

VIJHL team first beats Nanaimo Buccaneers at home, then Kerry Park Islanders on the road

Theodore St. Denis had one goal and one assist as the Peninsula Panthers defeated the Nanaimo Buccaneers 6-0 Friday at Panorama Recreation Centre. The Panthers then beat the Kerry Park Islanders 5-4 Saturday night on the right. (Photo courtesy of the Peninsula Panthers)
Ryan Grambart (24) carries the puck Friday night at Panorama Recreation Centre, where the Peninsula Panthers dropped a 6-4 game against the Kerry Park Islanders after having led 4-1. (Gordon Lee/Submitted)

Peninsula Panthers still looking for consistency after first month of VIJHL season

Panthers lose 6-4 against Kerry Park Islanders after beating Nanaimo Buccaneers 14-1

Ryan Grambart (24) carries the puck Friday night at Panorama Recreation Centre, where the Peninsula Panthers dropped a 6-4 game against the Kerry Park Islanders after having led 4-1. (Gordon Lee/Submitted)
The Campbell River Storm’s Kye Benoche shoots wide of Peninsula Panthers goalie Connor Svienson during Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League play on Saturday. The Storm won 4-3 in a shootout, after the Panthers scored late in the third to tie the game 3-3. (Alistair Taylor/Black Press Media)

Panthers make early season progress, host Kerry Park in North Saanich on Friday

Peninsula head coach Brad Tippett says junior B hockey team heading in right direction

The Campbell River Storm’s Kye Benoche shoots wide of Peninsula Panthers goalie Connor Svienson during Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League play on Saturday. The Storm won 4-3 in a shootout, after the Panthers scored late in the third to tie the game 3-3. (Alistair Taylor/Black Press Media)
Peninsula defenceman Matthew Seale finds himself sandwiched between Victoria Cougars players during the Panthers 4-1 loss Friday in North Saanich. The Cougars won the teams’ season opener 9-3 the night before in Esquimalt. (Photo by Gordon Lee)

Victoria Cougars dampen Panthers’ lofty expectation for VIJHL season start

Cougars post 9-3, 4-1 wins over the Panthers in opening junior B hockey weekend

Peninsula defenceman Matthew Seale finds himself sandwiched between Victoria Cougars players during the Panthers 4-1 loss Friday in North Saanich. The Cougars won the teams’ season opener 9-3 the night before in Esquimalt. (Photo by Gordon Lee)
Payton Braun (in blue), seen here in exhibition action against the Westshore Wolves, is a new addition to the Peninsula Panthers, who open their Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season with back-to-back games against the Victoria Cougars, including Friday’s home opener at Panorama Recreation Centre. (Photo by Gordon Lee)

Panthers GM expects big things for Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season

Peninsula and Victoria Cougars play home-and-home Sept. 9-10

Payton Braun (in blue), seen here in exhibition action against the Westshore Wolves, is a new addition to the Peninsula Panthers, who open their Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season with back-to-back games against the Victoria Cougars, including Friday’s home opener at Panorama Recreation Centre. (Photo by Gordon Lee)
An unspecified number of positive COVID-19 tests among players has led to the cancellation of the first regularly scheduled game of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season. (VIJHL.com)

Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League cancels season opener in Colwood due to COVID-19 cases

Westshore Wolves were scheduled to host expansion team Lake Cowichan Kraken

An unspecified number of positive COVID-19 tests among players has led to the cancellation of the first regularly scheduled game of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season. (VIJHL.com)
The Lake Cowichan Kraken and Kerry Park Islanders line up for a faceoff during an exhibition tournament at Lake Cowichan in August 2021. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League ponders vaccine mandate

VIJHL governors will discuss the issue at an upcoming meeting

The Lake Cowichan Kraken and Kerry Park Islanders line up for a faceoff during an exhibition tournament at Lake Cowichan in August 2021. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
The Port Alberni Bombers of the VIJHL have hired Gaelan Patterson as their inaugural head coach and general manager. He will join the team in August 2021. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

VIJHL: Expansion Port Alberni Bombers hire coach and GM

Saskatchewan coach excited to join city’s new Jr. B hockey team

The Port Alberni Bombers of the VIJHL have hired Gaelan Patterson as their inaugural head coach and general manager. He will join the team in August 2021. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Port Alberni’s BCHL ownership team is bringing a Junior B hockey team to the city for 2021-22. (SCREENSHOT)

Port Alberni joins Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League

Expansion Port Alberni Bombers cleared for takeoff in 2021

Port Alberni’s BCHL ownership team is bringing a Junior B hockey team to the city for 2021-22. (SCREENSHOT)
Former Oceanside Generals standout Max Creighton is raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. (PQB News file photo)

Former Vancouver Island junior hockey star focused on fight against Cystic Fibrosis

Max Creighton was unaware he had CF until 2019

Former Oceanside Generals standout Max Creighton is raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. (PQB News file photo)
Matt Ellison was a star with the Kerry Park Islanders before embarking on a pro career that included stops in the NHL and KHL. (Submitted)

Ex-NHLers to highlight Island Junior B hockey alumni games

Matt Ellison and Kyle Greentree commit to suit up in August for Kerry Park-Peninsula matches

Matt Ellison was a star with the Kerry Park Islanders before embarking on a pro career that included stops in the NHL and KHL. (Submitted)
Rick Hannibal takes over as new general manager of Oceanside Generals. (Oceanside Generals photo)

Hannibal takes over as general manager of VIJHL’s Oceanside Generals

New GM has been a board member with the organization since 2016-17

Rick Hannibal takes over as new general manager of Oceanside Generals. (Oceanside Generals photo)
Andrew Riddell was instrumental in helping the Oceanside Generals develop young players. (Oceanside Generals photo)

Andrew Riddell steps down as GM of VIJHL’s Oceanside Generals

Former BCHL player from Nanaimo moves on after promotion from full-time employer

Andrew Riddell was instrumental in helping the Oceanside Generals develop young players. (Oceanside Generals photo)
Oceanside Generals defenceman Brandon Hannibal, right, is disappointed the VIJHL season is over. (PQB News file photo)

Graduating player feels ‘robbed’ with ending of VIJHL season

League board votes unanimously to conclude play due to COVID-19 concerns

Oceanside Generals defenceman Brandon Hannibal, right, is disappointed the VIJHL season is over. (PQB News file photo)
Peninsula Panthers and Kerry Park Islanders players battle during a Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League game in November 2020. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

VIJHL pulls plug on 2020-21 season

‘It seemed that this is the time to make this decision’

Peninsula Panthers and Kerry Park Islanders players battle during a Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League game in November 2020. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Kerry Park forward Dawson Elzinga slides the puck past a Westshore defender during a VIJHL game last October. (Black Press Media photo)

Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League remains hopeful about 2020-21 season

Annual awards are cancelled, but league wants to resume season if possible

Kerry Park forward Dawson Elzinga slides the puck past a Westshore defender during a VIJHL game last October. (Black Press Media photo)
The Westshore Wolves, along with eight other Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League teams, have been off the ice since last November due to pandemic-related restrictions. The league is awaiting the next round of public health orders, due this week, to plan its next moves. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League awaits next public health order

Junior B league on pause since November due to COVID restrictions

  • Feb 1, 2021
The Westshore Wolves, along with eight other Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League teams, have been off the ice since last November due to pandemic-related restrictions. The league is awaiting the next round of public health orders, due this week, to plan its next moves. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Kerry Park Islanders and Peninsula Panthers battle during a Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League game in November 2020. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League hasn’t given up on season

Games can’t resume until at least February, but league brass still hopeful

The Kerry Park Islanders and Peninsula Panthers battle during a Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League game in November 2020. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)