Mariners vs. Vikes: A Weekend Win for the Ones in Blue
Written by: Grace Penner
Back-to-back games results in back-to-back wins for the Mariners this past weekend. No matter the arena, Ian Stewart Complex or Nanaimo Ice Centre, the Mariners showed the Vikes who owned the ice.
On January 30th, 2026, the VIU Mariners and University of Victoria Vikes, battle it out in the Vikes stomping ground. Both teams are racing for that first place spot in the league, a status that the Mariners are currently holding.
The Mariners starting lineup consisted of Noah Danforth, Austin Daniels, Landen Stromme, Aiden Corbett, and Matthew Fleet.
Big save by Mariners’ goalie, Fleet, as Vikes Alexander Smith sneaks around the defense to unsuccessfully attempt the first goal of the game.
Corbett serves the penalty for too many players, but the Vikes are unable to use the powerplay to their advantage. Chase Cooke shoots from the blue line and the puck deflects off Corbett, putting the Mariners first goal on the scoreboard, 1-0.
In the second period, Ryan Hunter finds the back of the net, past Vikes’ goalie Ronin Garaghty, with an assist from Captain Ethan Jones and Carson Erhardt. This is Hunter’s sixth goal of the regular season. Mariners take the 2-0 lead.
Vikes, Mason Hartley, knocks in a goal off Fleet’s rebound on a powerplay. Hartley scores off Kade Leskosky’s shot with an assist from the league’s 2024/25 top defenseman, Kyle Crewe.
Mariners’ Blake Power takes the power back scoring the last goal of the period, with an assist from Stromme and Daniels. Geraghty makes the initial save but Vikes are unable to pass it out of their zone, the Mariners take back their two-goal lead.
In the third period, Vikes trio starring Hartley, scores with a repeat assist from Leskosky and Crewe on a powerplay. Hartley’s second and Vikes final goal of the game, pushes them up 3-2.
Jones, determined to keep the two-goal lead, scores the final goal with another assist from Erhardt and Nolan Wickham.
The Mariners lead the shots on goal, 45-35.
The CUPE 401 Player of the Game is Forward Ethan Raduy. The three stars of the game are Mariners’ Blake Power, Matthew Fleet, and Vikes Mason Hartley.
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24 hours later, the Mariners and Vikes meet again, this time on Mariners home ice. The Mariners showcase their third jerseys, sponsored by Kim and Gary Powers from Promac.
The Mariners’ starting lineup is Ryan Hunter, Carson Erhardt, Ethan Jones, Nolan Wickham, and Connor Stojan.
The Vikes are coming out strong, they’re here for revenge from last night’s loss. With their previous BCIHL championship in the 2024/25 season, and the Mariners carrying that title the year before, both teams are battling to bring home the trophy in the near future.
The Mariners’ Captain, Jones, top scorer in the BCIHL league at 37 points, shows us just that with the one and only goal in the first period. With an assist from Erhardt and Hunter, the Mariners lead 1-0.
The second period starts with the Mariners on the powerplay from a late penalty in the first period, by Vikes forward, Kade Leskosky.
Chase Cooke scores from the top of the circle, his third of the season, pushing the Mariners to a 2-0 lead. Blake Power and Landen Stromme with the assists.
The Vikes, Tom Sweeney, scores with an assist from Reid Fryer and Owen Evers, to bring the second period into a 2-1 lead by the Mariners.
Three minutes into the third period, the teams go into 4-on-4 due to a boarding penalty from the Vikes Kyle Crewe and roughing from the Mariners Jett Bennett.
Soon after the penalties end, a wrist-shot from Jason Scott hits the top right corner of the net. Scott’s first goal with the team ties up the game 2-2. Scott is helped off the ice due to a crosscheck to the face.
With less than two minutes left in the third, a multiple player fight breaks out due to a rough hit by Stromme to Vikes defenseman Kyle Crewe. Vikes goalie Ronin Geraghty and forward Cole Fournier rush in to defend their teammate. This results in a roughing penalty and a game misconduct for both Stromme and Fournier, and a roughing penalty for Geraghty.
After an intense third period, they transition into overtime, tied 2-2. It’s a 4-on-3 beginning due to Vikes tripping penalty in the last two seconds of the third period.
Less than two minutes into OT, Jones scores the game winning goal with another assist from Erhardt. The Mariners win 3-2 and lead the shots on goal, 39-30.
The CUPE 401 Player of the Game is Ethan Jones. The three stars are Mariners Ethan Jones, Chase Cooke, and Vikes Jason Scott.
The Mariners come back once again on their home ice against the Logan Lake Miners, February 21st, 2026, at 7:15pm PST.