Members of the VIU Mariners men's hockey team pose for a team picture on the picturesque waterfront of Alaska, AK ahead of an exhibition game versus the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves on Friday, Sept. 29 at 7:05 p.m. (Simon Creighton)

By Ian Holmes

memorable weekend

‘It’s a real big addition to our program:’ VIU men’s hockey team travels to Alaska for exhibition games

Sep 29, 2023 | 11:23 AM

NANAIMO — The Vancouver Island University’s men’s hockey team is getting a healthy serving of life and hockey all rolled into one jam-packed weekend.

The Nanaimo-based British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) team is punching well above its weight class with a pair of tune-up games scheduled against NCAA division 1 opponents in Alaska.

Up first is a pre-season game on the evening of Friday, Sept. 29 versus the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves. VIU Mariners head coach Dave Johnston said their program is looking forward to a completely positive experience.

“I think that the confidence that our athletes will gain from playing in a situation like this is going to be just unbelievable,” Johnston told NanaimoNewsNOW from Anchorage. “It’s going to be a memory these kids are going to have, and selfishly that us as coaching and staff are going to have for the rest of our lives.”

The following night the team boards a plane for a one-hour flight north to Fairbanks to face the Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks.

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Johnston noted the second game of the northern trip is expected to be especially challenging, noting the Nanooks have a pair of Hobey Baker Award finalists on their roster.

“The focus isn’t obviously on wins and losses when you’re doing something like this, it’s on the experience that we’re providing our players. It’s a real big addition to our program.”

Brady Frattinger (foreground) and Carson Erhardt carry their gear from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (Simon Creighton)

After leaving the Harbour City early Thursday, the VIU Mariners men’s hockey squad travels back to Nanaimo on Sunday.

Aside from valuable hockey and life experience for the Mariners, Johnston said their presence is also appreciated by both Alaska-based programs which struggle to attract opponents for exhibition games in the isolated state.

Johnston credited their general manager Andrew Riddell for making the Alaska trip happen.

“He worked his tail off this summer talking to different schools around North America, trying to arrange something like this and it all came together.”

The VIU Mariners open their BCIHL regular season on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. versus the visiting Logan Lake Miners at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.

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ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes