| Victoria Cougars | |
 | |
| City | Esquimalt, British Columbia |
|---|---|
| League | Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League |
| Division | South |
| Founded | 1998–99 |
| Home arena | Archie Browning Arena |
| Colors | Black, gold, red, and white |
| General manager |  Suneil Karod |
| Head coach | Suneil Karod |
| Captain | Nick Gomerich |
| Championships | Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy (VIJHL) – 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 Cyclone Taylor Cup – 2007 |
Website victoriacougars.com | |
| Franchise history | |
| 1998-Present | Victoria Cougars |
The Victoria Cougars are a junior "B" ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the South Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL). The Cougars play their home games at Archie Browning Arena. George Linger is the team's president and general manager, Suneil Karod is the coach and they are captained by Carl Ewert
The Cougars joined the league in 1998 as an expansion team. In its VIJHL history, the team has won the Cyclone Taylor Cup once, in 2007. The Cougars have won the Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy Seven times in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016. They have also won the Andy Hebenton Trophy eight times, as the team with the league's best regular season record in 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17.
History[]
From their inaugural year when the team won only one game all season, the Cougars have improved every season. In March 2005, the Victoria Cougars won their first Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy, and won the bronze medal at the Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial championships.
They followed that up with their best regular season record in the 2006-07 season, going 39-6-0-3 for 81 points, and a winning percentage of 0.840, second best in the province. In the 2007 playoffs the Cougars won their second VIJHL playoff championship in three years. They then hosted the Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial Junior "B" championships at Esquimalt’s Archie Browning Sports Centre, and won the tournament, defeating the Abbotsford Pilots 4-1 to earn the title of the best Junior "B" team in the province in their ninth year of operation.
The Cougars success on the ice continues: The Cougars have finished in the top two in the VIJHL for the last 15 straight regular seasons, capturing the regular season championship in the 2007/08, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons; they have been in the VIJHL Finals 11 of the last 13 years, capturing seven Brent Patterson Memorial Trophys. In 2012-13 they set a new league record, winning 45 of 48 games, losing one in regulation and 2 in overtime.
Season-by-season record[]
| Division Champions | Regular Season Champions | League Champions | Provincial Champions |
| Season | Division | Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | W | L | T | OL | Pts | GF | GA | Result | GP | W | L | GF | GA | Result | ||||
| 1998–99 | South | 40 | 1 | 38 | 1 | — | 3 | 120 | 407 | 4th | Lost Division Semifinals | |||||||
| 1999–00 | South | 40 | 11 | 22 | 7 | — | 29 | 168 | 219 | 3rd | 4 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 26 | Lost Division Semifinals 1–3 (Panthers) | ||
| 2000–01 | South | 48 | 23 | 19 | 6 | — | 52 | 233 | 212 | 3rd | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 18 | Lost in Division Semifinals, 0–3 (Islanders) | ||
| 2001–02 | South | 48 | 23 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 56 | 223 | 209 | 2nd | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 18 | Lost Division Semifinals 1–3 (Islanders) | ||
| 2002–03 | South | 48 | 27 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 59 | 254 | 191 | 1st | 12 | 7 | 5 | 38 | 41 | Won Division Semifinals 4–0 (Islanders) Won Division Finals 3–2 (Panthers) Lost Finals, 0–3 (Storm) | ||
| 2003–04 | South | 48 | 28 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 59 | 230 | 186 | 2nd | 11 | 6 | 5 | 40 | 33 | Won in Division Semifinals, 4–1 (Braves) Lost in Division Finals, 2–4 (Panthers) | ||
| 2004–05 | South | 48 | 29 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 61 | 219 | 145 | 2nd | 13 | 10 | 3 | 66 | 46 | Won in Division Semifinals (Islanders) Won in Division Finals (Panthers) Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy Champions, 2–0 (Storm) Finished 3rd in Cyclone Taylor Cup, 1–2–1 (Final vs Pilots) | ||
| 2005–06 | South | 42 | 29 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 61 | 231 | 129 | 2nd | 5 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 17 | Lost in Division Semifinals, 1–4 (Braves) | ||
| 2006–07 | South | 48 | 39 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 81 | 303 | 132 | 2nd | 23 | 16 | 7 | 83 | 36 | Won in Division Semifinals, 4–0 (Stingers) Won in Division Finals, 4–0 (Panthers) Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy Champions, 4–2 (Islanders) Cyclone Taylor Cup Champions, 3–1–0 (Final vs Pilots) Finished 4th in Keystone Cup | ||
| 2007–08 | South | 48 | 34 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 71 | 226 | 120 | 1st | 19 | 12 | 7 | 82 | 44 | Won in Division Semifinals, 4–0 (Stingers) Won in Division Finals, 4–1 (Panthers) Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy Champions, 4-2 (Islanders) Finished 4th in Cyclone Taylor Cup, 0–4–0 (Final vs Ghostriders) | ||
| 2008–09 | South | 48 | 34 | 8 | — | 6 | 74 | 236 | 132 | 2nd | 15 | 9 | 6 | 63 | 46 | Won Div. Semifinals 4–1 (Braves) Won in Division Finals, 4–1 (Panthers) Lost in Finals, 1–4 (Generals) | ||
| 2009–10 | South | 48 | 34 | 7 | — | 7 | 75 | 229 | 141 | 2nd | 14 | 7 | 7 | Won in Division Semifinals, 4–3 (Braves) Lost in Division Finals, 3–4 (Panthers) | ||||
| 2010–11 | South | 44 | 33 | 9 | — | 2 | 68 | 202 | 110 | 1st | 10 | 6 | 4 | 26 | 20 | Bye in Quarterfinals Won Semifinals 3–0 (Generals) Lost in Finals, 3–4 (Panthers) | ||
| 2011–12 | South | 42 | 36 | 5 | — | 1 | 73 | 200 | 93 | 1st | 13 | 10 | 3 | 60 | 30 | Bye in Quarterfinals Won Semifinals 4–1 (Islanders) Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy Champions, 4–0 (Panthers) Finished 2nd in Cyclone Taylor Cup, 2–2–0 (Final vs Pilots) | ||
| 2012–13 | South | 48 | 46 | 1 | — | 2 | 94 | 280 | 98 | 1st | 18 | 14 | 4 | 94 | 42 | Won Division Semifinals 4–1 (Panthers) Won in Division Finals, 4–1 (Braves) Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy Champions, 4–0 (Glacier Kings) Finished 2nd in Cyclone Taylor Cup, 2–2–0 (Final vs Sockeyes) | ||
| 2013-14 | South | 48 | 35 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 73 | 225 | 92 | 1st | 19 | 14 | 5 | 78 | 36 | Won Div Semifinals 4–0 (Islanders) Won in Division Finals, 4–1 (Storm) Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy Champions, 4–2 (Panthers) Finished 3rd in Cyclone Taylor Cup, 2–2–0 (Final vs Leafs) | ||
| 2014–15 | South | 48 | 42 | 5 | 1 | 85 | 256 | 99 | 1st | 12 | 8 | 4 | 66 | 21 | Won Quarterfinals 4–0 (Islanders) Won Semiinals, 4-0 (Wolves) Lost League Finals, 0-4 (Storm) | |||
| 2015-16 | South | 48 | 41 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 84 | 265 | 88 | 1st | 16 | 12 | 3 | 85 | 42 | Won Quarterfinal 4–0 (Islanders) Won Semifinals, 4-0 (Panthers) Won League Finals 4-2 (Storm) Cyclone Cup (see below) | ||
| 2016-17 | South | 48 | 35 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 75 | 208 | 124 | 1st | 18 | 11 | 7 | 60 | 49 | Won Quarterfinals, 4–2 (Wolves) Won Div. Finals, 4–1 (Islanders) Lost League Finals, 3-4 (Storm) | ||
| 2017-18 | South | 48 | 24 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 51 | 145 | 145 | 3rd | - | - | - | - | - | Lost Quarterfinals, 3-4 (Wolves) | ||
| 2018-19 | South | 48 | 28 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 99 | 186 | 120 | 1st | ?? | ?? | ? | ?? | ?? | Won Quarterfinals, 4–1 (Generals) Won Semi Finals, 4–2 (Buccaneers) Won League Finals, 4-2 (Storm) | ||
| 2019-20 | South | 48 | 41 | 6 | - | 1 | 83 | 266 | 117 | 1st | 6 | 6 | 0 | - | - | Won Quarterfinals, 4-0 (Braves) Leading Semifinal 2-0 (Panthers) when playoffs are cancelled | ||
| 2020-21 | South | 13 | 11 | 1 | - | 1 | 23 | 61 | 32 | 1st | Season cancelled | |||||||
| Season | GP | W | L | OL | SL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs | ||||||||
| 2021-22 | 49 | 35 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 131 | 100 | 73 | 1st South | Lost Quarterfinals | ||||||||
| 2022-23 | 48 | 36 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 73 | 232 | 144 | 1st South | Lost Semifinals | ||||||||
Cyclone Taylor Cup[]
British Columbia Jr B Provincial Championships
| Season | Round Robin | Record | Standing | Bronze Medal Game | Gold Medal Game |
| 2016 (*) | W, 100 Mile House 4-2 W, Campbell River 5-3 W, Mission City 7-5 |
3-0-0 | 1st of 4 | n/a | L, 100 Mile House 5-4 Silver Medalists |
| 2019 | L, Revelstoke 1-4 OL, Storm 2-3 (ot) W, North Vancouver 3-0 |
1-2-0-0 | 1st of 4 | N/A | L, Revelstoke 1-5 Silver Medalists |
(*) Host
Awards and trophies[]
- 2006-07
Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy
VIJHL Championship
- 2004-05, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2015-16
Andy Hebenton Trophy
Regular Season Champion
- 2007-08, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17
Grant Peart Memorial Trophy
Least Penalized Team
- 1997-98, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2011-12, 2013-14, 2016-17
Doug Morton Trophy
Leading Scorer
- Daryl Boyer: 1999-00
- Daryl Boyer: 2000-01
- Mark Van Helvoirt: 2001-02
- Karl Carveth: 2004-05
- Michael Hammond: 2005-06
- Steve Axford: 2011-12 (tied with Ty Jones (Braves))
- Brody Coulter: 2012-13
- Sam Mcmullen: 2014-15
- Nathan Looysen: 2015-16
Top Forward
(New award for 2011-12 season)
- Brody Coulter: 2011-12
- Sam Mcmullen: 2014-15
- Nathan Looysen: 2015-16
Jack Kingston Memorial Trophy
Top Defenceman
- Cam Smith: 2005-06
- Jacob Koistinen: 2007-08
- Adam Steenbergen: 2008-09
Jamie Benn Trophy
Most Valuable Player
- Adam Steenbergen: 2009-10
- Brody Coulter: 2012-13
- Sam Mcmullen: 2014-15
- Nathan Looysen: 2015-16
Jamie Robertson Trophy
Most Sportsmanlike Player
- Michael Hammond: 2005-06
Larry Lamoureaux Trophy
Rookie of the Year
- Ryan Fuzi: 2000-01
- Brandon Wong: 2001-02
- Matt Thomson: 2003-04
- Michael Hammond: 2005-06
- Steven Axford: 2007-08
- Samuel Rice: 2008-09
Ray's Sports Centre Trophy
Top Goaltender
- Matt Thomson: 2003-04
- Matt Thomson: 2005-06
- Corey Koop: 2009-10
- Evan Roch 2011-12
- Anthony Ciurro 2015-16
Walt McWilliams Memorial Trophy
Unsung Hero
- Tim Simpson: 2002-03
- Mark Walton: 2012-13
- Mark Walton: 2013-14
Coach of the Year
(New award for 2011-12 season)
- Mark Van Helvoirt 2011-12
External links[]
- Official website of the Victoria Cougars
- Official website of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League
- Official website of the Cyclone Taylor Cup
- Official website of the Keystone Cup