Women’s hockey program set to take flight at VIU

The Mariners will play in the BCIHL along with two other teams, Thompson Rivers University and the Okanagan Lakers.

The hope is to play nearly 40 games with eight to ten at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.

‘We’re doing three showcases, two in Logan Lake and one in Kelowna, and we’re hoping to host one here in the new year at some point where other teams come to us. With exhibition games included there’s going to be various teams we’re going to play throughout the year that we’re working on as well. This year we’re just trying to get as many games as we can in, then adding another team or two next year.”

The Mariners have 16 players on their roster with about 80 percent from from the Nanaimo area.

In early October the club announced its leadership group including captain Rhys Winchell of Nanaimo, Addison Battie from Campbell River and Emmy McKinnon out of Nanaimo.

Kennedy said those players and others bring a lot of experience to the table from different levels and many of them already know each other.

“We’re very quick, which is great and we’ve got a little edge to us too. We’re really excited about how this will go, and it’s also girls who have played on teams together in some capacity over the years in their minor hockey careers, and a bit of their collegiate career as well.”

The BCIHL season is just about to begin but the Mariners already know where it will end.

The three league teams will play in a championship tournament in March at Thompson Rivers University.

Kennedy said a near full schedule should be released some time in October.

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by Dan Marshall

Women’s hockey program set to take flight at VIU

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