The Brighton Vikings are making an immediate impression in their first-ever season in the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League, and the hockey world is sitting up and taking notice.
The expansion club has won its first nine games, establishing itself as one of the early teams to watch this season. The Vikings’ impressive start has put them among the league’s top contenders and generated plenty of excitement for hockey fans in Brighton and throughout Northumberland County.
Brighton’s early success is particularly noteworthy given that the team is building its identity in its inaugural campaign. The players have quickly found their rhythm, putting together a winning streak that has made them a difficult opponent.
Carlos Verde is the team’s public relations director, and having been around the game for a long time, he knows a winning formula when he sees one. He says several factors have contributed to the team’s early success, not the least of which is the incredible local support from Brighton and the surrounding region right out of the gate.
The Vikings now face another significant test as they prepare to meet the unbeaten Northumberland Stars, who have also enjoyed a strong start to the season. The matchup between the neighbouring clubs promises to be an exciting early-season showdown, with both teams looking to maintain their perfect records.
One team will emerge from the matchup with its first loss of the season, and Verde knows this is a game that should not be missed.
Verde says the challenge for the Vikings is to keep the momentum going while continuing to grow as a team. Despite their rapidly growing win total, he believes the Vikings still have a number of moves up their sleeves in the early stages of the 2026-27 campaign.
Friday night’s matchup is shaping up to be one of the marquee games of the season across the league, as the two powerhouse teams face off for the very first time.
(Written By: Richard Evans)
