Lake Cowichan Kraken

Lake Cowichan Kraken
CityLake Cowichan
LeagueVIJHL
DivisionNorth
Founded2021 (2021)
Home arenaCowichan Lake Sports Arena
Colours         
Owner(s)Luke Armstrong and Harbs Bains
Head coachKyle Evans
Websitekrakenhockey.ca

The Lake Cowichan Kraken are a Junior ice hockey team in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League based in Lake Cowichan, British Columbia. The team debuted as an expansion franchise in the 2021–22 VIJHL season.

Team identity

The name "Kraken" refers to the mythical sea monster said to appear in the sea between Norway and Iceland. The team chose its name as an homage to the sea monster of local folklore called the Stin’Qua – which was said to dwell in Lake Cowichan – and to the NHL Seattle Kraken, which debuted in the 2021–22 NHL season.[1][2][3][4]

Arena

The teams plays its home games at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena which opened in 1970.[4][5] The team set an attendance record of 352 on 5 February 2023 during its home game against the Saanich Predators.[6] A new team dressing room was added in 2023.[7]

Season-by-season record

The team failed to qualify for the post-season during its first three years.[8]

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points

Season-by-season record
Season GP W L OTL SOL T Pts Finish Playoffs
2021–22 51 19 30 1 1 0 40 5th in division
9th overall		 Did not qualify
2022–23 48 16 28 2 2 0 36 5th in division
9th overall		 Did not qualify
2023–24 48 15 31 0 2 0 32 4th in division
9th overall		 Did not qualify

References

  1. ^ Rothbauer, Kevin (29 December 2021). "2021 Sports Year in Review". Cowichan Valley Citizen. Black Press Media. Retrieved 3 August 2024. The Kraken moniker was selected in part because of the NHL's Seattle Kraken, but also because of Cowichan Lake's own legendary monster, the Stin'Qua.
  2. ^ Gunderson, Rolli (28 November 2012). "The mystery of the Stin-Qua remains". Lake Cowichan Gazette. Black Press Media. Retrieved 3 August 2024. A 1930 issue of the Cowichan Leader reported the sighting by Cougar Charlie of a serpent-like creature in the waters of Cowichan Lake.
  3. ^ Chiappelli, Kirstie (4 December 2018). "Seattle lands NHL expansion team starting in 2021-22 season". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  4. ^ a b Dheensaw, Cleve (26 May 2021). "Move over Seattle — Lake Cowichan gets Kraken, too". Times Colonist. Glacier Media Group. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  5. ^ Gunderson, Rolli (17 October 2011). "The birth of Cowichan Lake's community arena". Lake Cowichan Gazette. Black Press Media. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  6. ^ Simpson, Sarah (6 February 2023). "Lake Cowichan Kraken set new attendance record in home loss". Cowichan Valley Citizen. Black Press Media. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  7. ^ Simpson, Sarah (30 October 2023). "New dressing room highlights Lake Cowichan Kraken's weekend". Cowichan Valley Citizen. Black Press Media. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  8. ^ Simpson, Sarah (23 February 2024). "Lake Cowichan Kraken narrowly miss the post-season for third-straight year". Cowichan Valley Citizen. Black Press Media. Retrieved 3 August 2024.

Further reading