Any team needs to find its identity early in the season, but the VIU Mariners have already found something they do well – come back to win hockey games.
Vancouver Island University’s hockey team won both its games this past weekend in B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League play, including a 4-3 win against the University of Victoria Vikes on Sunday in VIU’s home opener at the Nanaimo Ice Centre. Two nights earlier down the Malahat, the Mariners beat UVic 6-4. In the first game, VIU came from 4-1 down to win and on Sunday, the home team trailed 3-0 going into the third before scoring four straight.
“It was good,” said Ryan Coghlan, Mariners team captain. “It’s tough coming from behind all the time, but … that’s kind of the way that we’re doing it right now.”
Steve Paul, coach of the Mariners, said the team got back to its game plan, settled down and worked together.
“It was trusting each other, supporting each other, know that your teammate’s beside you.They’ve got to believe in each other,” Paul said. “They’ve got the talent to do it. All we do as coaches is just try to get that energy back into them to not get down and let them know that it’s their game to win or lose.”
There are new additions to the team this year and the Mariners are still trying to build chemistry and find what works.
“We’ve got a good group of guys. I think we’re better than last year, skill-wise,” Coghlan said. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but I’m really proud of the way that the team came out this weekend and battled.”
VIU goes into the season with a deep roster, something Coghlan said is important after the team had some guys hurt right at playoff time last season.
“With this many guys, guys are trying to find their way into the lineup and find their roles. It is a little bit more difficult that way,” he said. “But I think with the amount of guys that we have, we’re prepared for injuries … A situation like this where we have this many extra guys, it’s definitely going to be helpful down the road.”
In the first game of the weekend, Gavin Rauder and Brett Witala scored two goals each and Garrett Dunlop and Joshua Cook also scored. Two nights later, Dunlop had two and Rauser and Gage Colpron also tallied. Brett Clark was the winning goalie in both games.
GAME ON … VIU hosts Selkirk on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 7:15 p.m. at the NIC.
editor@nanaimobulletin.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
