The Kerry Park Islanders were on the road to start the 2025-26 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League regular season. The Isles travelled to George Pearkes Arena to play the Saanich Predators — the team that ousted them from the 2024-25 playoffs en route to a VIJHL championship.
The Sept. 5 matchup featured 10 total goals, with the defending champions scoring seven.
It was just 1-0 after the first period but Saanich scored again on the power-play early in the second to double their lead. Kerry Park captain Colby Robinson got his team on the board but the Predators scored twice more to finish the period leading 4-1.
The Isles scored on the power-play 59 seconds into the third period when Brodie Kenney scored. Colten Roberts scored for the Islanders to bring the lead to 4-3.
A penalty shot, an empty-net goal and one final dagger from the Predators made the final score 7-3.
"I liked the way we came out in the third period against Saanich," said Kerry Park head coach Jake Ebner. "Down 4-1 it’s easy for a team this early on to pack it in but we fought back and played really well, unfortunately it got away from us."
The following night, the Islanders played their home opener at Kerry Park Arena against the Victoria Cougars.
Victoria scored the only three goals in the first period, one short-handed, but Ben Stocks added a short-handed goal of his own to start the second. It wasn't enough as the Cougars went on to score four more goals for the 7-1 victory.
Kerry Park goalie Carter Puska was the game's second star, stopping 30 of 34 shots on goal he faced.
Two games into the season, there's no need to panic.
"It’s early on and we will work on the areas we need to," Ebner said.
The Islanders visit the Peninsula Panthers at Panorama Recreation Centre on Sept. 12 and then play host to the Lake Cowichan Kraken at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Kerry Park Arena.
