VIU Mariners | BCIHL Champions
Written by Grace Penner
After winning against the UVIC Vikes during Quarterfinals, the Mariners are rematched with the Vikes once more for Championship finals. For the third year in a row, the Mariners and Vikes go head-to-head for the BCIHL Championship Title.
The BCIHL TV live feed is filled with comments from Mariners fans, cheering them on from all over Canada. The stadium is roaring, fans are revving up for the most important game of the season, and both teams are feeling the pressure.
The first minute into the period, Austin Daniels skates off to the penalty box for hooking. The Vikes are eager for a powerplay goal, but the Mariners stay strong on the defence, and it is a successful penalty kill.
Cage Newans opens the scoring with a great shot past Vikes goalie, Ronin Geraghty, with an assist from Cole McGuire. Carson Erhardt follows suit. Geraghty loses his stick and Erhardt seeks the opportunity, scoring the second goal of the night with an assist from Brandon Modde and Austin Daniels.
The Mariners continue to spend the majority of the period in the offensive zone, tiring Geraghty out with their endless pursuit. It becomes a fast paced period with many long non-stop plays.
The Vikes start to come back strong, angered by their two point disadvantage. The Vikes Centre Booker Daniel scores the one and only Vike’s goal of the night. The period ends in the Mariners favour, 2-1, and shots on goal 14 all.
Into the second period, the Mariners present great offensive and defensive plays, only allowing the Vikes two shots on goal in the span of 10 minutes. Ethan Jones is given a penalty for slashing, which proves another unsuccessful powerplay for the Vikes. Despite a couple of huge opportunities to score, Mariner’s goalie Connor Stojan, protects his net from any incoming pucks.
Hunter Burgeson scores soon after with an assist from Newans, who is having one of his best games. A minute later, Landen Stromme scores next with an assist by Blake Power. Mariners continue to keep the lead, 4-1, with shots on goal 28-21.
The third period shows the Vikes just how merciless the Mariners truly are, and how that Championship title belongs to them. Newans scores halfway through the period with an assist from Burgeson. Vikes Justin McKnight is given a penalty for high-sticking and Ryan Hunter uses this powerplay to put a number 6 on the scoreboard, with an assist from Newans and McGuire.
An interference penalty is called against Daniels, putting the Vikes on the powerplay once again. Blake Power shows off his speed and skill and scores, despite being one man down, with an assist from Landen Stromme.
With three minutes left in the period, Power blasts through the Vikes defense and scores the eighth and final goal of the night, unassisted.
As the clock strikes down the last 10 seconds, the Vikes give up, retreating to their bench, and the Mariners kill the time standing in their zone. Once the buzzer rings, the Mariners bench empties within moments to celebrate their win and season long achievement.
The VIU Mariners are officially crowned the 2025-2025 BCIHL Champions.
On top of this amazing win and the trophy that goes with it, a couple Mariners were honoured at the BCIHL banquet. Brandon Modde was awarded Top Defenseman and All Star Team Defenseman. Captain Ethan Jones was awarded MVP, for the second year in a row, and All Star Team Forward. Carson Erhardt was awarded All Star Team Forward. Connor Stojan was awarded Top Goaltender. Coach Chris Jones was awarded Coach of the year, for the third year in a row.
The Mariners team, staff, and volunteers worked tirelessly this season to get to this point, and it all paid off. Until next season, Mariners!