Santa Barbara Islanders to Launch Hockey Season
The city's new Senior A ice hockey team will play two exhibition games against the San Diego Renegades this weekend.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Hockey
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The Santa Barbara Islanders are set to debut their inaugural season with games against the San Diego Renegades on Friday, October 23, 2026, and Saturday, October 24, 2026. The Travel Men's Senior A team is an exhibition member of the Mountain Hockey League.
Why it matters
The organization aims to introduce a high-level hockey product to the local community while working to grow the sport in the area. Long-term goals include establishing a permanent Senior A presence and supporting local youth programs.
The Islanders will play 12 games throughout their exhibition schedule, beginning with two contests this weekend at the Ice in Paradise arena. These initial games feature a Friday start time of 8 p.m. followed by a 4:45 p.m. start on Saturday.
The players
Santa Barbara Islanders
This is a new Travel Men's Senior A ice hockey team that acts as an exhibition member of the Mountain Hockey League.
San Diego Renegades
This is the opposing hockey team participating in the two exhibition games scheduled to kick off the Islanders season.
The details
The team roster is comprised of players from Santa Barbara and Southern California who have previously competed in prep school, junior, club, NCAA, and minor league professional hockey. All home games will take place at the Ice in Paradise arena located in Goleta.
Timeline
Friday, October 23, 2026, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 4:45 p.m.
Season Trajectory
The Islanders are entering the Mountain Hockey League as an exhibition member to assess the local demand for high-level hockey in Santa Barbara. This debut season establishes the foundation for a permanent franchise in the region while testing the competitive landscape.
Local hockey fans can watch the inaugural roster compete at the Ice in Paradise arena in Goleta this weekend. The games offer the first look at players recruited from various collegiate and professional levels who will represent the city.
The takeaway
The arrival of the Islanders brings a new level of competitive hockey to the Santa Barbara area. Residents interested in supporting the team can attend the weekend games to help gauge the viability of a long-term Senior A presence.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments on the ice in Santa Barbara Hockey.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Noozhawk.
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