February 8th

Islanders Out Work Cougars

The Kerry Park Islanders traveled to Esquimalt to face the Victoria Cougars on February 8th.  The Cougars sat in first place with the Islander in second looking to regain their position on top, which they had lost to the Cougars back in November.  Quinn Mulligan was called in to back up Kiefer Smiley in this game for the injured Matt Young.  The Islanders came out flying in the first period, out playing the Cougars, but the Cougars fought back icing a few good scoring chances on Smiley as they out shot the Islanders 10 – 6 in the first, but with better scoring chances coming from the Islanders.     

In the middle frame, the Islanders showed the same intensity that they displayed in the first, but the Cougars, like always, managed to refocus their efforts and come out stronger than the first period.  The Cougars opened the scoring in the second to take a 1 – 0 lead.  Despite the one goal deficit, the Islanders kept up their work ethic which resulted in a goal from Wayne Twan at the 4:53 mark, where he was sprung on a break away by Curtis Steacy.  The play went back and forth with both teams getting good scoring opportunities, but it was Brady MacDowell scoring on a breakaway, assisted by Jeff Van Siclen, to give the Islanders a 2 – 1 lead at 16:06.  Just over a minute later Van Siclen scored an unassisted goal to give the Islanders a 3 – 1 lead off a Cougars turnover.  The Islanders went into the third period feeling good with the result up to that point.

The third period started out with the Cougars, again, regrouping to come out hard, but not matching the Islanders work ethic.  Just under three minutes into the third period, MacDowell notched his second of the night on the power play from Jordan Grant and Tony Bertuzzi to take the Islanders to a 4 – 1 lead.  The Cougars tried to come back scoring with nine minutes left to cut the deficit in half, but the outstanding play by Smiley kept the Islander on top.   It was Smiley’s play and the undisciplined Cougars that allowed Michael Posey to score another power play goal with three minutes left, assisted by Kevin Shillito and Twan, to take the Kerry Park Islanders to a 5 – 2 victory over the Victoria Cougars.  The win placed the Islanders back in first place of the VIJHL, tied in points with the Cougars, but with a game in hand.  The Islanders finished 2/9 on the power play and one short handed that allowed them to beat the Victoria Cougars on the road.  Kiefer Smiley played an outstanding game, stopping 22 of 24 shots.  The Islanders travel to face the Oceanside Generals on Saturday February 11th. 

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