Season Preview: Strong returning core looks to lead UVic back to postseason

The University of Victoria knows better than anybody the highs and lows that a team can experience from season to season. In March 2017, the Vikes won their fourth B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League championship in stunning fashion. But the past two years haven't been as friendly to the squad, who posted eight wins in 2018 and won just five times last season.

There's plenty of good news for Victoria's team, however, as the seeds planted with last year's youthful roster are now expected to bear fruit. The Vikes return 16 skaters, which is second highest in the BCIHL behind TWU's whopping 22 veterans. Their mission is simple: to build on the trials and tribulations they faced a season ago and make it back to the BCIHL postseason.

KEY RETURNERS

Three of UVic's top four scoring forwards are back for a second year with the team, including goals leader Otis Goldman (11) and points leader Blake Holowaty (23). Former Okotoks Oilers captain Carter Huber rounds out the trio, having shown top line potential during a eight-game point streak that saw him net six goals and 12 points.

The team's blueline is boosted by the return of six defencemen, including former BCIHL first-team all-star Kyle Bird. The 24-year old led Vikes defenders with12 points last season, and has 46 in 65 career BCIHL games. He joined by former Junior A standouts Jake Tesarowski, Brody Jennings, Callum Volpe and Joe Olson. Tyler Severson will be looking to rebound from an injury-filled year that limited him to just eight games after a strong rookie season in 2017/18.

NEW TO THE TEAM

Former Powell River Kings forward Josh Coblenz headlines a handful of impact recruits for the Vikes, joining on the heels of a 21-goal, 47-point season in the BCHL. Forwards Keenan Eddy and Stratton Pickett are both returning to Vancouver Island after Junior A stints in Ontario; Eddy is a Duncan native who netted 21 points with the OJHL's Wellington Dukes while Pickett, a former Oceanside General, earned Top Defensive Forward honours in the SIJHL.

On defence, Victoria native Ryan Warner joins on following a pair of Junior A seasons with the BCHL's Trail Smoke Eaters and SJHL's Melville Millionaires, while Brock Shwaluk logged over 200 games as a stay-at-home defender in the SJHL and MJHL.

UVic will be hoping for a big rookie season from netminder Daniel Paul, who carries the most impressive resume of the squad's three rostered netminders. The 20-year old is coming off a four-year career as a starter in the KIJHL with North Okanagan and Osoyoos, where he was named the Okanagan Division's Top Goaltender in 2018.

GETTING STARTED

The Vikes will look to build on back-to-back preseason victories over their island rivals from VIU when they host the Mariners in a pair home games on September 27th and October 4th, followed by three straight against Selkirk College.