The Kerry Park Islanders continued to play strong hockey in 2022, collecting five points in three Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League games last week, including a shutout win over the Port Alberni Bombers at home on Saturday.
The latest stretch began in Victoria last Thursday when the Isles battled back from a three-goal deficit to tie the game twice in the third period before ultimately losing 6-5 in overtime to the South Division-leading Cougars.
Logan Walker opened the scoring for the Isles just 47 seconds in, but the Cougars answered back with four straight before the first period was over.
Reid Fitzpatrick took just 28 seconds to score the only goal of the second period on a powerplay, and Kellan Bates and Mateo Sjoberg scored at 1:06 and 1:08 of the third to even things up at 4-4.
The Cougars went back in front, but Bates forced overtime by scoring his second of the game with only 66 seconds left in regulation. The Cougars buried the winner at 3:22 of the extra session.
Walker finished with a goal and an assist, and Ben Northcott and Brady Estabrook each had two helpers on the night. Eric Young made 32 saves as the Isles were outshot 38-26.
The following night, the Isles doubled up the Saanich Predators 6-3 at George Pearkes Arena.
Marko Tokic and Cole Sloboda staked Kerry Park to a 2-0 lead in the first, and Walker made it 3-0 with a powerplay goal in the third before the Preds got on the board with two in a row.
The third period saw Fitzpatrick add some insurance before Saanich got one back on the powerplay. Jackson Egan restored the two-goal lead with a shorthanded marker, and John Ross sent his first VIJHL goal into the empty net to seal the win.
Walker, Egan and Fitzpatrick each had a goal and an assist, Kirk Whittaker had two assists, and Dryden DeMelo made 31 saves as the Isles outshot the Predators 43-34.
Back at home on Saturday, DeMelo made 30 saves as the Isles thumped the Port Alberni Bombers 6-0.
It was DeMelo’s second shutout of the Bombers this season and third overall, tying him for the league lead. Tokic scored two goals and assisted on another, Ben Northcott had a goal and two assists, and Sloboda scored the game-winner and added a helper. Sjoberg and Matt Baird also found the back of the net in the rout. Port Alberni netminder Callum Tung faced 67 shots on the night, making 61 saves. The Isles went 4-for-8 on the powerplay.
The Isles will be back in Victoria this Thursday, then visit the Comox Valley Glacier Kings on Saturday.