The Cowichan Valley's two Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League teams started the 2025-26 regular season at opposite ends of the standings, but both clubs maintain it’s still too early in the campaign for it to mean anything.
The Lake Cowichan Kraken are 3-0 for the first time in franchise history, while the Kerry Park Islanders have dropped their first four games and are one of just two teams in the 11-team league yet to register a win.
Neither team believes these trends will continue for long.
"Winning the first three is such a great feeling, but it doesn't mean a whole lot," admitted Kraken captain Aleksander Leonelli. "We need to continue to stay consistent and do all the little things right."
The Islanders travelled to North Saanich Friday night to face the Peninsula Panthers at Panorama Recreation Centre, where Nick Scott scored the visitors’ lone goal on a first-period power play. Colten Roberts and Taran Biring earned assists on the play.
From there, however, it was all Panthers. The Islanders were outshot 62-10 and fell 9-1.
Kerry Park goaltender Joshua Dubreuil played the full 60 minutes, making 52 saves on 61 shots.
On Saturday night, the Islanders hosted the Kraken in the first cross-town derby of the season. After a scoreless first period, Lake Cowichan struck first in the second with goals from Kadin Bilajbegovic and Iaroslav Morozov.
Ben Stocks responded on the power play in the third period for Kerry Park, but the Islanders couldn’t find the equalizer and lost 2-1.
The Kraken out-shot the Isles 61 to 24. In a first-star effort, Kerry Park goalie Carter Puska stopped 59 of 61 shots on goal in the loss.
The win marked Lake Cowichan’s third in as many games, with Alfie Blakeley earning his third straight victory between the pipes.
"Alfie is standing on his head for us at times," Leonelli said.
The play of Nicolas Kalinocka is also being noticed. He was recognized by the league as Forward of the Week for his three-goal-five-point performance in the Kraken's home opener on Sept. 4.
The Kraken return to action on the road Sept. 19 against Peninsula, and will host the Saanich Predators on Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m.
"The boys are full of confidence because we know what we can do out there. We have set a standard and now need to stay on track here," Leonelli said.
The Islanders look to rebound with a road game against the Port Alberni Bombers on Sept. 19, followed by a home matchup at Kerry Park Arena on Sept. 20 against the Comox Valley Glacier Kings.
Meanwhile, the Islanders have secured goalie Mill Bay product William Kozoriz for the 2025-26 season.
"He's been working hard all summer and into the season and definitely earned his spot," Ebner said.
