March 3, 2026 – League leading scorer Joseph Melichar of the Victoria Cougars has been voted Most Valuable Player in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League for the 2025-26 season, as the 11-team circuit announced its annual award winners today.
Melichar scored 43 goals and added 44 assists for 87 points in 45 games, and earned MVP honours following a vote by VIJHL teams. He received the Doug Morton Trophy for being the league’s regular season scoring champion, and the Jamie Benn Trophy as MVP.
Westshore Wolves team members received four awards, the Peninsula Panthers three, Victoria Cougars and the Nanaimo Buccaneers two each, with the Oceanside Generals and Lake Cowichan Kraken earning one apiece.
Top Forward – Brian Harrison Award – Parker Atkinson, Westshore Wolves
Player Best Combining Sportsmanship & Ability – Jamie Robertson Award – Elijah Kim, Westshore Wolves
Broadcaster of the Year – Jeff King Award Marlon Martens, Westshore Wolves
Most Disciplined Team – Grant Peart Memorial Trophy – Westshore Wolves
League Regular Season Winning Team – Andy Hebenton Trophy – Peninsula Panthers
Coach of the Year – Eddie “The Storm” Kingston Award – Grayson Vickers, Peninsula Panthers
Unsung Hero – Mac MacWilliams Memorial Trophy – Ethan Lingard, Peninsula Panthers
Top Defenseman – Clayton Stoner Trophy – Nate Barclay, Nanaimo Buccaneers
Rookie of the Year – Larry Lamoureaux Trophy – Madden Cruickshank, Nanaimo Buccaneers
Executive of the Year – Jim & Kathleen Williams Memorial Award – Harbs Bains, Lake Cowichan Kraken
Best Goaltender – Bruce Naylor Award (based on statistics) – Ethan Suhr, Oceanside Generals
