Hat tricks aren’t seen frequently in Vancouver Island Field Hockey Association play, but the Mutineers’ Gordie Johnston recorded the league’s second in two weeks on Sunday at UVic.
The national team member’s three-goal outburst carried Mutineers to a 4-2 victory over Rebels 1, marking the team’s second win of the new year. The men in green, who failed to score a point in the first half of the season, improved to 3-3-1 in 2023, but still sit five points back of the UVic Vikes for the season total in the competitive division.
Rec division callup Tom Vincent scored the insurance goal for the Mutineers in the fourth quarter, banging home a crossing pass into the D from Andrew MacKinnon.
Rohan Bandecha and Ethan Picard tallied for Rebels (6-6-1).
The Vikes continue to suffer from manpower shortages and on Sunday were forced to absorb a second straight forfeit loss, this time to the league-leading Tigers. The latter loaned some bodies to Vikes and the squads made good use of the turf time by playing a friendly match.
The day’s earlier recreational division contest saw a 3-3 split between Hawks and Rebels 2.
Scoring for the Hawks (3-1-2) were Amit Dillon, Devin Virk and Javier Virk, who notched a hat trick for Tigers the week before. Replying for the Rebels (3-2-1) were Simon Lightbody, Bevan Van de Burg and Tom Wilson.
Coming up next weekend (Feb. 12), the Marauders and Rebels 2 kick things off with a rec game at 10:30 a.m., followed by a pair of competitive division games; Tigers vs. Rebels 1 at noon and Vikes vs. Mutineers at 1:30 p.m.

Tigers and Rebels 1 already had points in the bank by the time they faced off in a Vancouver Island Field Hockey Association exhibition game Sunday at UVic’s field 1 turf.
With both the Vikes and Mutineers suffering from extreme player shortages this weekend – forcing both to forfeit their Jan. 29 games against Rebels and Tigers, respectively – the latter chose to take advantage of the turf time to keep their players in game shape.
Rebels scored first in the entertaining exhibition match, but gave up the next four goals to Tigers, who ultimately scored a 4-2 victory. Javier Virk tallied the hat trick for the winners, while Derrick Norton added a single. Gavin O’Halloran scored both goals for Rebels, who lost 6-2 in last week’s scheduled game against Tigers.
The day’s other game saw the Hawks halt a second-half Marauders comeback to win 5-3 in recreational division play.
Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the end of the first half, but gave up three straight goals to Marauders in the third quarter. Taking advantage of a couple of late opportunities, the Hawks rebounded with two more goals to seal the deal.
Amit Dillon led the Hawks’ attack with a pair of goals, while Devin Virk, Vardeep Gill and Rajiv Dillon scored once each. Tom Vincent scored twice for Marauders, while Jay Flye tallied his first goal of the season.
The February schedule begins next Sunday (Feb. 5) with Hawks taking on Rebels 2 at 10:30 a.m., followed by Tigers vs. Vikes at noon and Rebels 1 vs. Mutineers at 1:30 p.m.

Boosted by the addition of several of the club’s recreational players, including goalkeeper Kelvin Kum, the Mutineers recorded their first win of the season in Vancouver Island Field Hockey Association play Sunday on the turf at UVic.
With Kum coming up huge and fearlessly turning aside multiple quality chances by the Vikes, the men in green shut out UVic 2-0. Neil Barr, with a nifty first-half tip-in, and Chase Stiles, with an insurance goal later on, scored for the winners.
The Mutineers have gone 1-1-1 to start 2023, after losing their first seven games in the fall.
The Vikes, who competed two players short in the game, were unable to recreate the magic from the week before, when they tied the undefeated Tigers with just six players and a goalie.
The day’s other competitive division game saw Tigers jump out to a 3-0 lead early and roll to a 6-2 win over Rebels 1 to improve to 8-0-3 on the season.
Derrick Norton scored twice in the win, while Josh Brown, Rajiv Dillon, Lukas Grbic and Parm Sahota added singles. Ethan Picard and Gavin O’Halloran scored for Rebels (5-5-1).
The three rec division teams divided into four sides for their monthly jamboree play Sunday, featuring seven-a-side games on half fields.
Next weekend kicks off with Hawks playing Marauders in recreational action at 10:30 a.m., followed by Mutineers vs. Tigers at noon and Rebels 1 vs. Vikes at 1:30 p.m.
– Photo courtesy Chris Wilson of Island Wave Photography, find more photos from the Mutineers vs. Vikes game in a gallery at * https://www.islandwavephotography.com/Field-Hockey/Uvic-v-Mutineers-Jan-22-2023/ *

When it comes to playing the UVic Vikes men, the Vancouver Island Field Hockey Association competitive division-leading Tigers are fit to be tied.
Sunday (Jan. 15) on the turf at UVic, a significantly outnumbered Vikes team held the powerful Tigers to a second straight tie, this time 3-3.
Choosing to play with just six players and a goalkeeper rather than forfeit a win to Tigers and play a friendly match, the Vikes held their own and even shocked their opponent by jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first quarter.
Jesse Kaloti scored twice to lead the Tigers’ attack, while Harbir Sidhu, a national teamer and former Tiger back home for the weekend, added a single. Finley O’Callaghan, Caelan Ostrosser and Simon Johns scored for Vikes.
Despite earning a single point and preventing Tigers (7-0-3) from widening the gap in the standings, the Vikes (3-3-3) were unable to gain ground on Rebels 1 (5-4-1), who edged Mutineers 4-3 in Sunday’s other competitive division match.
Michael Bryan and Gavin O’Halloran each scored twice in the win, which increased the Rebels’ margin in second to four points over UVic.
Stuart Wylie, Neil Barr and Iosvani Marrero found the net for Mutineers, who had recorded their first point of the season the week before in a 3-3 tie against Rebels.
The day began with Rebels 2 defeating Marauders 3-0, marking a return to recreational division action after the winter break.
Simon Lightbody bagged a pair of goals for the winners while Scotty Carnes added a single. Owen Dahl, not tested often by the Marauders’ attack, picked up the shutout in net.
While possession appeared fairly even between the teams, Rebels (3-2-0) capitalized on their opportunities better. The result left them atop the standings, while third-place Marauders fell to 1-3-1 heading into this month’s jamboree seven-a-side games on Jan. 22 starting at 10:30 a.m.
Later games this coming weekend see Mutineers take on Vikes at noon, followed by Tigers vs. Rebels 1 at 1:30 p.m.

The Victoria Junior Field Hockey Association (VJFHA) are hosting their annual open session for all new youth players to come try the game for free!

How you can help:
(1) Let your friends, family, neighbours or other community members know!
(2) Volunteer at the session as a coach

Who: Youth players aged 5-18 (no experience necessary)
Date: Sunday, February 5, 2023
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: UVic Field 3 (rubber-based)
Please check in at 12:50 p.m. to get sized for a stick and be put in your correct age groups.

If your child is between the age of 5-18, and would like to try a new sport for FREE we look forward to seeing you. Please feel free to bring a friend but we encourage registration per participant to help with planning. Current players are welcome, too, but this session is geared at growing the game.

Please bring shin pads and mouth guards if you have them. No cleats. Sticks, balls, coaching and fun will be provided.

Online registration is required at: http://victoriajuniorfieldhockey.ca/forms/24747-COME-TRY-IT-FREE-DAY-SUNDAY-FEBRUARY-5-2023

Registration for the event closes on February 1, 2023.

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If you are interested and available to coach at the session (practice plan provided), please sign up at: https://forms.gle/MNiQXMjkoBkzSahd6

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The 2023 VJFHA Season runs April 11 to June 25, 2023. Registration for the league opens on Monday, February 13 at 7:00 am.
For detailed schedules per age groups visit: http://vjfha.victoriajuniorfieldhockey.ca/clubs/393/pages/6257

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For questions please reach out to info@victoriajuniorfieldhockey.ca