By Dominic Abassi

University hockey coming to Nanaimo in October

Jan 23, 2017 | 7:23 PM

NANAIMO — Myles Parsons and a group of dedicated hockey enthusiasts known as VIU Hockey Inc. had a poster boy in mind long before they ever had a team.

The whole vision came to reality Monday, as Vancouver Island University officially confirmed the VIU Mariners hockey team would begin play in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League in the fall of 2017.

Ryan Coghlan, a Nanaimo Minor Hockey product, was front and centre in the promotional picture for Nanaimo’s first ever university hockey team.

“It’s a tremendous honour,” Coghlan told NanaimoNewsNOW Monday afternoon. “For someone to think about you like that, it’s obviously a huge honour for me to kind of wear that…nothing but excitement for me and my family.”

VIU Hockey Inc., a non-profit organization, has been grinding away behind the scenes since 2015 to bring a university hockey team to the school. Their application to the BCIHL was approved in December, following pledges of support from BC Hockey, VIU, the city, and council.

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Coghlan played his major-midget hockey with the Nanaimo-based North Island Silvertips. He went on to play 81 games in the Western Hockey League, with Saskatoon and Prince Albert. He also appeared in more than 100 BCHL games, including a stint with the Clippers.

Coghlan said the BCIHL, a league designed for former junior and pro players to play in while focusing on school, offers a more competitive environment than the local rec league.

“I’m a pretty competitive guy on and off the ice…my goal was always to play as long as I could. It’s kind of nice to be here (Nanaimo) and kind of be able to get my life started in a way, but the one thing that is missing is to be able to play competitive hockey.”

Coghlan says he has spoken with a lot of former and current junior players and the interest level has been high. He noted current VIJHL’ers Nolan Richardson and Nick Gomerich.

The VIU team will be a pay-to-play model and players must be enrolled in a minimum number of classes at the school. Myles Parsons, the organization’s chair, said fees for year one are expected to be around $1,800 and the budget for the team will be about $80,000 annually.

Sponsorship, advertising and donations will be leaned upon to cover any expenses beyond the player’s fees, according to Parsons. A VIU release states $40,000 has been raised so far.

“I’m really, really impressed how much the Nanaimo hockey community has come together to help this team move forward,” said Parsons. “That’s financially and in support.”

Parsons said they have had at least 40 players express interest. He said the majority of them will have to earn their spot on the roster during a camp April 7-9.

He said the Mariners hockey team will likely practice twice a week, with their 12 home games at the Nanaimo Ice Centre on weekends. Admission is planned to be $5.

The hockey program will be considered a club team. VIU currently has two club teams — rugby was established two years ago and baseball will be joining next season. Soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton and golf are considered varsity sports at the university.

VIU joins five other BCIHL teams — Selkirk College in Castlegar, Trinity Western University in Langley, Eastern Washington University, Simon Fraser and University of Victoria.