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Photo credit: Island Images
For Victoria Grizzlies second-year forward Landon Mackie, 2024-25 has been a breakout season. Playing for his hometown team, the 18-year-old put up nearly seven times more points this season compared to his rookie year, jumping from five to 34.
While his BCHL career seems to be up and running in a big way, he credits a particular coach for molding his game in his younger years.
After playing his minor hockey in Juan de Fuca, he joined Pacific Coast Academy in Victoria for his first season of under-15 hockey, and ended up spending the next four years under the tutelage of Mark Kosick.
Kosick, a former BCHL player with the Victoria Salsa in 1996-97, went on to play four years at the University of Michigan and won national championship, before embarking on a 13-year professional career in North America and in Germany.
“He’s an unbelievably smart hockey player,” said Mackie. “I think I learned a lot of my hockey sense from him. He would say to always check who is around you, keep your head up, your feet moving and your hands going. He’s a complete coach. I think every aspect of my game, I owe to him.”
“I still talk to him a lot. His phone is always open for me if I have any questions about anything. He’s a great supporter.”
During his fourth and final year with the program, Mackie got the chance to play five games as an affiliate with the BCHL’s Grizzlies, which set him on his current path.
The following season, Mackie cracked Victoria’s squad as a 17-year-old and began his rookie year in junior hockey. With two goals and three assists in his first campaign, he knew he needed to come back faster and stronger to become the player he aspired to be.
And that is exactly what he did. In 2024-25, Mackie totaled 17 goals and 17 assists, while playing in all 54 regular season games.
“I had a lot of work to do in the offseason,” he said. “I think I’ve just been finding my game more and more every time we play. I’ve got great teammates that I’ve been playing with all year. A lot of credit is due to them. Everything’s just kind of been clicking this year.”
He has carried that strong play over into the playoffs as well. Through 12 games, he is among his team’s top scorers with nine points and has helped them reach the Coastal Conference Final, after back-to-back six-game series wins over the Coquitlam Express and Cowichan Valley Capitals.
“We just want to play hard on both sides of the puck,” he said. “Obviously, I’ve found some offence here, which is good – anything to support our team. We have such a good group. When we get a goal, it feels like the whole team just scored. I’m glad I’ve been able to contribute so far and I’m hoping to keep that going in the next round here.”
That next round should be their toughest test yet as the match up against the conference leaders, the Chilliwack Chiefs.
Chilliwack won three of four contests over Victoria in the regular season, but one of those wins came in overtime.
“I’m really excited for it,” said Mackie. “I think it’s going to be a great series. I like how we’ve matched up throughout the season, so I’m really excited to see how it goes in the playoffs.”
Being a hometown kid, this playoff run has been extra special for Mackie, getting to perform in front of family and friends night after night.
“It’s truly special,” he said. “My grandma lives two hours up the Island, so she’s down to watch games all the time and my parents of course get to watch every single home game. My friends as well, they’re always here supporting me. Getting to live at home while I play here, it’s just perfect.”
