The Kerry Park Islanders open their 2023-24 junior B hockey campaign on the road on Sept. 8 against the Saanich Predators but it won’t be long before the home crowd at Kerry Park Arena will get to see their team in action.
The very next night the Isles play host to the Nanaimo Buccaneers in the first of five games at their home rink that month.
It’s a new-look Kerry Park organization this year as former head coach Brian Passmore, who was instrumental in turning the team’s fortunes around in the second half of last season, has departed for a head coaching job with the BC Hockey League’s Merritt Centennials.
Replacing him is Henry Acres, who comes to the VIJHL with a hefty resume both on the ice and behind the bench.
Acres played junior A hockey in the BCHL in the mid ’90s before heading to Mount Royal College for three seasons from 1999 to 2002.
From there Acres played 11 games in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League for the Jacksonville Barracudas during the 2002-03 season before moving on to the United Hockey League for stints with the Motor City Mechanics and Richmond Riverdogs in 2005-06.
His playing career ended in Sweden’s first division with the Arboga IFK after the 2006-07 season.
Acres has since started his own hockey school and received extensive training in player development and analysis and development programming for elite players. In addition, he was most recently an assistant coach with Shawnigan Lake School’s ice hockey program.
Islanders owner Brandon Cox is pleased to begin the new season with such an experienced bench boss.
“He has a wealth of knowledge from his days in Sweden where he played pro and coached pro,” Cox explained. “I think if Henry could bring that to our team, it’s invaluable. He’s got dedication to the game and to the athletes,” Cox added. “He’s a super motivated scholar of the game.”
In addition to a bench boss change, the Isles have inked some new players for the upcoming season, including a pair of brothers, who began their hockey careers with Kerry Park Minor Hockey.
Forwards Parker and Finn Klippenstein have both signed with the Isles.
Parker, 20, played eight games with the Isles during the 2020-21 season before moving to the Oceanside Generals for two seasons. This will be Finn’s first time as an Islander. The 16 year old played two games with Oceanside and 35 games with the Port Alberni Bombers last season.
Joining the duo are off-season pick-ups Eli Pearse, Jaxson Armstrong, and local product Andy Yuill as well as local player Wade Enger, who has been an affiliate player for the past two seasons.
“We have some returning guys and our recruiting has done well, we’ve got some really good young players,” Cox said. “I’m excited to see the growth in our good, young players. They’ve got bright futures.”
Kerry Park’s training camp begins Aug. 18 and will run until Aug. 21 when the Isles will visit the Lake Cowichan Kraken for an exhibition game at 7 p.m.
Acres said that his new team’s final roster will be set just prior to their first game of the regular season. Before then though, he’ll need to evaluate just who he’s got in his player pool and who might be incoming thanks to the VIJHL’s recent switch to junior A - tier 2 status.
“There are new skaters and things coming out of the woodwork,” Acres said of players’ sudden interest in the VIJHL. “It’s an interesting time for hockey in B.C. and a lot of people are watching what we’re doing out here.”
Kerry Park welcomed back quite a few returning players, which Acres is pleased about.
“The veteran players are really excited about this season, about taking the next step with this group,” said the coach. “We’re off to a flying start in that regard because everything starts in your mind.”
Part of creating a successful team, he noted is building culture.
“You’re always building culture, it never stops; creating the right training environment and an accepting place where each individual can be themselves but help also contribute to the group,” Acres said. “I have to learn how they work and they have to learn how I work and then we can build it from there.”