2006 AA Island Conference Preview

Predicted Finish

1. John Barsby Bulldogs
2. Ballenas Whalers
3. GP Vanier
4. Gulf Island Scorpions
5. Nanaimo Islanders
6. Mark Isfeld Ice
7. Highland Raiders

Updated again. Sources tell me that the Highland Raiders will be fielding a team at the AA level and they've been placed in the Island conference. Don't know anything about them, and they didn't have a JV team, so I expect a lot of new program bumps.

Updated. The realignment here makes sense. Now that all the island teams are all together, there won't be so much griping from teams on both the island and mainland over the travel for league games.

The Barsby Bulldogs look to have another great year, looking to go back the Championships in 2006. Outstanding DE Woznesensky will be back to anchor the defense. RB Thai will take over ball-carrying duties in the Double-Wing. The Bulldogs will be a top 5 team again in 2006.

Ballenas loses superstar back Andrushko to graduation this year. In 2006, the Whalers will rely on a lot of young up and coming talent. The JV Whalers played well in AAA. It will be interesting if they can transform their game as they were so heavily reliant on Andrushko this year. It will be a work in progress and I expect the Whalers to make playoffs but won't contend.

2005 was a season to forget for the Gulf Islands Scorpions. 2006 should be much better. A pretty good JV team moves up along with a mostly Gr 11 team this year means the experience will give the Scorpions the confidence to compete against Barsby and Ballenas.

Vanier won't be as good in 2006 as they were this year. Still they are better than Nanaimo, and Mark Isfeld.