After a five-year hiatus, the Cross Lake Islanders make their official return to the ice tonight in Manitoba. As a member of the Junior B Keystone Junior Hockey League (KJHL), the Islanders previously played four seasons (2006-10) finding little success. The club won just 22 games (2-30-0-0 during their final season) over the four seasons and finished at the bottom of the standings each campaign.

Now the club is back and optimism is high. Local hockey legend Harley Garrioch is the new man behind the bench for the Islanders. A standout defensemen, Garrioch played Junior A hockey in the SJHL with the Flin Flon Bombers before four seasons at NCAA Division III Neumann University.

Cross Lake will be one of eight others chasing a league title, won the past two seasons by the Selkirk Fishermen.

Winning three of four preseason games, the Islanders hope to carry that momentum into the KJHL regular season – beginning tonight. The Islanders will host Lundar Falcons in their home opener at Cross Lake Sports Arena. Game time is scheduled for 8:00 PM.

Cross Lake Islanders are back! Join us at Cross Lake Arena tonight as we host @LundarFalcons 8 PM faceoff! http://t.co/bu7ZDUvB7w #KJHL — Cross Lake Islanders (@CLIslanders) October 10, 2015

Islanders roster

G Tory Monias

G Brendan McLeod

G Kris Ross