The Victoria Cougars are a junior 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 in Esquimalt.

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 Eight times in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2019 as league Playoff Champions. They have also won the Andy Hebenton Trophy nine 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, 2016–17, and 2019–2020.

History

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 have captured the regular season championship in the 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2019–2020 seasons; they have been in the VIJHL Finals 13 times, capturing eight Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy's. In 2012–13 they set a new league record, winning 45 of 48 games, losing once in regulation and twice in overtime. In the same season former player and current Head Coach, Brody Coulter, set the VIJHL record for points in a season. In 48 games Coulter scored 118 points (39G 79A 2.5 PPG).

In 2025, the franchise was sold to Chris Lynn and Philip Pang. It had previously been owned by the Esquimalt Hockey Society, a non-profit organization. Mike Vandekamp was appointed as general manager and head coach.

Season-by-season record Division champions Regular Season Champions League champions Provincial Champions Season Division Regular season Playoffs 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 QuarterfinalsWon 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 QuarterfinalsWon 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 Semifinals, 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)Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy Champions, 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 16 11 4 59 31 Won Quarterfinals, 4–1 (Generals)Won Div. Finals, 4–2 (Buchaneers)Won League Finals, 4–1 (Storm)Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy ChampionsCyclone Taylor Cup (see below)2019–20South4841601832261171st6602413Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic2020–21South13111012361321st00000Regular season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. Playoffs were not played.2021–22 South 49 35 11 0 3 73 231 131 1st – – – – – Lost Quarterfinals, 0–4 (Islanders)2022–23 South 48 36 11 1 0 73 232 122 2 – – – – – Won Quarterfinals, 4–1 (Islanders) Lost Semifinals, 2–4 (Predators)2023–24 South 48 34 11 2 1 71 232 120 1st – – – – – Won Div Semifinals, 4–0 (Panthers)Lost Div. Finals, 3-4 (Predators)2024–25 South 48 25 17 2 0 52 174 152 4/5 Div6/11 OA 6 2 4 23 34 Lost Div Semifinals, 2-4 (Islanders)2025–26 South 48 37 8 3 0 77 237 126 2/5 Div2/11 OA 17 12 5 52 33 Won Div Semifinals, 4-1 (Wolves)Won Div Finals 4-3 (Panthers)Won League Finals 4-1 (Buccaneers)

Provincial Champions Season Round Robin Record Bronze Medal Game Gold Medal Game2005N/AN/AW, Abbotsford Pilots 4–2 Bronze Medalistsn/a2007N/AN/An/aW, Abbotsford Pilots 4–1 Gold Medalists2008N/AN/AL, Fernie Ghostriders 5–3 4th Placen/a2012W, Abbotsford Pilots 3–2 W, Beaver Valley Nitehawks 3–0

L, Delta Ice Hawks 7–22–1n/aL, Abbostford Pilots 3–2 (OT) Silver Medalists2013L, Richmond Sockeyes 5–2 W, Castlegar Rebels 1–0

W, Comox Valley Glacier Kings 6–12–1n/aL, Richmond Sockeyes 4–1 Silver Medalists2014W, Nelson Leafs 6–1 L, Aldergrove Kodiaks 4–1

L, Beaver Valley Nitehawks 3–01–2W, Nelson Leafs 3–0 Bronze Medalistsn/a 2016* W, 100 Mile House 4–2W, Campbell River 5–3W, Mission City 7–5 3–0–0 n/a L, 100 Mile House 5–4Silver Medalists2019W, Revelstoke Grizzlies 4–1 L (OT), Campbell River Storm 3–2

W, N Vancouver Wolf Pack 3–02–0–0–1n/aL, Revelstoke Grizzlies 5–1 Silver Medalists

Victoria Hosted in 2007 and 2016 Round Robin records only stored online dating back to 2011

Awards and trophies Cyclone Taylor Cup 2006–07

Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2018–19

Andy Hebenton Trophy 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17

Grant Peart Memorial Trophy 1997–98, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2016–17

Doug Morton Trophy 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 Brody Coulter: 2011–12 Sam Mcmullen: 2014–15 Nathan Looysen: 2015–16

Jack Kingston Memorial Trophy Cam Smith: 2005–06 Jacob Koistinen: 2007–08 Adam Steenbergen: 2008–09 Kevan McBean: 2018–19Jamie Benn Trophy Adam Steenbergen: 2009–10 Brody Coulter: 2012–13 Sam Mcmullen: 2014–15 Nathan Looysen: 2015–16

Jamie Robertson Trophy Michael Hammond: 2005–06

Larry Lamoureaux Trophy 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 Matt Thomson: 2003–04 Matt Thomson: 2005–06 Corey Koop: 2009–10 Evan Roch 2011–12 Anthony Ciurro 2015–16

Walt McWilliams Memorial Trophy Tim Simpson: 2002–03 Mark Walton: 2012–13 Mark Walton: 2013–14

Coach of the Year Mark Van Helvoirt 2011–12

References

External links Official website of the Victoria Cougars