The Island Invasion – Girls Hockey Trip

24 February 2026Jayden W, Hope ‘26

Between the grinding pressure of Showcase Hockey and the looming intensity of the Ross Cup, there’s a golden window on the Brentwood calendar. It’s the weekend everyone circles in red: the annual Vancouver trip. More than just a tournament, it is the ultimate team reset: a few days to swap the quiet Island life for the upbeat energy of the city.

In late January, the girls’ team headed to the Mainland to dominate more than just the scoreboard. From the opening whistle to the final shopping bag, the pace was relentless. The high-speed energy of the morning games carried straight into the city’s shopping district, but the true peak of the weekend was found in the stands of the Rogers Arena. Fresh off their own battles against local Vancouver teams, the girls were more than ready to watch an intense showdown between the Canucks and the Maple Leafs. “Watching the pros play, especially a rivalry like Vancouver and Toronto, just fires you up,” says Neveah K, Mack ‘26.

That spark is exactly what the coaches hope for during these mid-season excursions. While the games, goals, and assists matter, the real wins often happen during moments in between all of the chaos. The team dinners, ferry rides, and shared laughs are what build the unshakable bond this team carries into every game. “This trip is a chance to decompress. When the girls are having fun and connecting off the ice, they play more selflessly on it,” says Mr Hacker-Teper, Science Teacher and Girls Hockey Coach.

The team headed back to the Island early Sunday morning, pulling into Mill Bay by the early afternoon. It was a quick turnaround from the Mainland back to the campus grind, arriving just in time to support both the Kraken Erg and Interhouse Jenga. With the trip finished, the girls are now fully focused on bringing their unified energy to this weekend’s Ross Cup.

This successful weekend wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the school. A huge thank you to all the coaches and staff who worked tirelessly to organize the logistics and make this trip such a memorable experience for the team.

Jayden W, Hope ‘26

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