The Nanaimo Buccaneers are gearing up for their next challenge as they host the Saanich Predators at the Nanaimo Ice Centre on Thursday, October 2, at 7:15 pm. With a record of 4-2, the Buccaneers are looking to build on their overall early-season momentum and also continue their strong performance at home (2-1).
Preds Points Profile
The Saanich Preds have played 7 games this season, with a record of 3-4-0. They have scored 26 goals and allowed 34. The Braves joined the league in 1967 as an original VIJHL team. In its VIJHL history, the team has won the Cyclone Taylor Cup once, in 1976. The Braves have won the Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy seven times: in 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1988, and 1996. They won the Andy Hebenton Trophy ten times, as the team with the league’s best regular season record in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1994, 1995, and 1996. The team changed its name from the Saanich Braves to the Saanich Predators in 2020.
Bucs to Date
The Buccaneers (who lead the North Division in winning percentage at .667) have had a majority of ups and not many downs this season, with a 4-2 record and 8 points on the North Division leaderboard. The Buccaneers have demonstrated prowess on home ice, boasting a 2-1 record. On the road, they also have a 2-1 record, showing early signs of an aptitude to adapt and compete in different environments – something Bucs’ GM Bill Bestwick identified as necessary, especially for goaltenders. “We want to have each of our goaltenders learning the valuable lessons of playing at home and on the road,” Bestwick said in the preseason.
Standings and Comparison
The VIJHL’s North Division standings reveal a competitive landscape: The Buccaneers (with 5 total games in hand) are sitting in third behind Lake Cowichan and Port Alberni (if the playoffs were to start based on September 30). The team’s performance had been almost exclusively impressive heading into a less-than-stellar 5–3 road loss in Comox Valley (Sep 27). The Buccaneers will look to wash the taste of that defeat away versus a capable Saanich squad.
🏴☠️ Thoughts from the Crow’s Nest 🐦⬛
The loss to Comox Valley has presented a valuable opportunity for the team to reflect on their performance and make corrections – many of which don’t always get fully addressed during a high-octane/high-effort/gutsy win streak (like the club had been on at 4-0). All teams, even the great ones, have stumbles during a season. Good teams often bounce back. Great teams almost always do.
Prediction From Behind the Keyboard:
Look for the Buccaneers to bounce back with a gritty, hard-working effort.
Stay Connected
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Upcoming Games and Community Support
*Mark your calendars for these exciting matchups!
– Thu, Oct 2: Saanich at Nanaimo (7:15 pm PDT)
– Sat, Oct 4: Nanaimo at Victoria (7:00 pm PDT)
– Fri, Oct 10: Nanaimo at Campbell River (7:30 pm PDT)
– Mon, Oct 13: Oceanside at Nanaimo (12:30 pm PDT)
– Sat, Oct 18: Nanaimo at Port Alberni (2:00 pm PDT)
– Sun, Oct 19: Nanaimo at Lake Cowichan (5:30 pm PDT)
– Thu, Oct 23: Campbell River at Nanaimo (7:15 pm PDT)
– Sun, Oct 26: Peninsula at Nanaimo (3:15 pm PDT)
– Thu, Oct 30: Port Alberni at Nanaimo (7:15 pm PDT)
– Sat, Nov 1: Nanaimo at Kerry Park (7:30 pm PDT)
Support the Buccaneers and give back to the community by purchasing 50-50 tickets at home games. We also invite you to host your individual parties and special events at our home games. For bookings, please contact either: Nicole: nicole@(nanaimobuccaneers.ca) or Bill: billbestwick747@gmail.com
