The Lake Cowichan Kraken have signed a pair of forwards from the U18 Prince George Cougars.
Both 2006-born Colby Jefferies and Bevin Williams have agreed to bring their skills to the Cowichan Lake Arena and sport the green and black of the hometown Kraken for the 2024-25 season.
“Colby will be bringing his community- and team-first attitude to Lake Cowichan. The recent captain of his U18 team, [he] has tremendous leadership skills,” said the team in announcing his signing.
The Kraken also noted that the playmaking centre “has an on ice prowess that will be to the advantage of his teammates.”
“A leader with a never-take-a-step-back playing style will make Bevin a fan favourite,” said the team. “He will definitely have an on ice presence. Kraken fans will be cheering the talents of this skilled, smooth skating forward.”
The pair of signings come following the Lake Cowichan Kraken 2024 ID Camp held in late April.
In other Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League news, at the end of April the league announced it would no longer be affiliated with Hockey Canada or BC Hockey, following in the footsteps of the British Columbia Hockey League, which left Hockey Canada’s umbrella in 2023.
“The VIJHL is pleased to announce our move to become an independent league starting next season and to operate outside of Hockey Canada’s umbrella going forward,” said Simon Morgan, the VIJHL’s then-president. “After months of hard work behind the scenes by the ownership group of our 11 franchises, the decision to move the VIJHL into a new space in junior hockey will allow players more opportunities for development going forward.”
The news release also adds affiliation agreements with higher levels of hockey, abilities to make “decisions that are in the best interest” of the league, and an increased player pool as benefits.
Morgan has since left the VIJHL and the league is now looking to fill the president position.
