Trevor Withers stopped all 26 shots on October 19, 2014 at the Burnaby Winter Club to earn the first shutout in franchise history over Grandview. Withers went on to play a total of 86 games as a wolf. North Van has only managed two shutouts against Grandview in 15 seasons. Tonight, the final home game of the regular season has the Grandview Steelers in town! Puck drop is set for 6:45 PM.
GRANDVIEW STEELERS
OVERVIEW
General Manager/ HC: Aldo Bruno
Record: 27-16-1-2 (46GP)
Road Record: 13-9-0-1
Last Game: A thrilling 6-5 road victory in White Rock on Tuesday.
SCORES: Bran (8), Johnson (25 PP, 26 PP), Cox (19), Bandesha (18, 19)
SHOTS: 39 WR – 36 GDV
SAVES: Kermany 34/39
SPECIAL TEAMS: 4/6 PK, 2/6 PP
Goals For/Goals Against: 184 GF/169 GA (+15)
Power Play: 50/178 (28.09%)
Penalty Kill: 31/136 (77.21%)
Leading Scorers: Dylan Narduzzi (45GP – 1G – 57A – 58PTS), Kaidan Johnson (33GP – 26G – 27A – 53PTS), Vincent Timperio (46GP – 19G – 32A – 51PTS
BUSY AT THE DEADLINE
The Grandview Steelers were one of the busier teams at the PJHL trade deadline this season. Grandview acquired the following players:
Markus Johansen (D, 04’): KERRY PARK ISLANDERS
Aidan Texeira (F, 04’), Ben Ruthven (F, 03’): RICHMOND SOCKEYES
Mason Brown (F, 04’): ABBOTSFORD PILOTS
Cameron Northard (D, 03’): ALDERGROVE KODIAKS
EYES ON THE POSTSEASON
This is the biggest game of the season for the Grandview Steelers. The Steelers currently sit in fourth place in the Tom Shaw Conference with 57 points. Grandview is one point behind the White Rock Whalers, but both teams have played in 46 games. The Whalers host Chilliwack tonight and only need three points to guarantee a third-place finish. Another outcome that would favour the Whalers is if they defeat Chilliwack and North Van wins tonight.
WOLF PACK KILLER
Lucas Cox made his first PJHL appearance during the 2019-20 season. The right-shot forward is suiting up in his 112th PJHL game tonight and is enjoying his most productive season in the league. In 39 games this season, the right-shot forward has 19 goals and 15 assists for 34 points in 39 games. Cox always manages to bring his best whenever he plays his hometown team and scored a shootout winner for the Steelers at a Wolf Pack game last season. The 2003-born forward has five goals against North Vancouver in his career including two goals and an assist this season. Cox was with the Steelers when they were swept by the Wolf Pack in the second round of the 2020 playoffs.
NOTES
- This is the final road game of the season for Grandview
- Grandview is the least penalized team in the PJHL (697 PIM)
- The Steelers have four 20-year-old players on their roster. Vincent Timperio, Alec Pettingale, Kaidan Johnson, and Dylan Narduzzi
NORTH VANCOUVER WOLF PACK
OVERVIEW
General Manager: Dean Samson
Head Coach: Mike Borrelli
Record: 24-19-2-1 (46GP)
Home Record: 12-10-1-0
Last Game: An 8-0 shutout victory over Aldergrove.
SCORES: Pickell (35, 36, 37), Penman (12, 13), Reimer (1), Belanger (1), Baron (11)
SHOTS: 60 NV – 27 ALD
SAVES: Bencsik 27/27
SPECIAL TEAMS: 2/2 PK, 0/5 PP
Goals For/Goals Against: 168 GF/166 GA (+2)
Power Play: 51/219 (23.29%)
Penalty Kill: 45/190 (76.32%)
Leading Scorers: JJ Pickell (43GP – 37G – 27A – 64PTS), Andrew Casellato (40GP – 16G – 36A – 52PTS), Ryan Hunter (38GP – 9G – 36A – 45PTS)
FIRSTS
Anthony Reimer scored his first goal of the season on Wednesday night in ALdergrove. Reimer is in his second season with North Vancouver and had 22 points (10-12) in 41 regular season games last season. The left-shot forward from Whistler, BC, has a goal and 10 assists for 11 points in 39 games during his current campaign.
Kai Belanger is in his first season with the Wolf Pack. Belanger has played in all three games with the Wolf Pack during the month of February but hadn’t played since November prior to that due to injury. The 2005-born and left-shot native of Vancouver, BC, picked up his first goal in the PJHL in Aldergrove. Belanger now has a goal and two assists for three points in 20 games, entering the game this evening.
PICKS IS IN
In 43 games played this season, JJ Pickell has 37 goals and 27 assists for 64 points. Pickell is currently 12 points ahead in team scoring. JJ joins a list of some impressive Wolf Pack alumni in the 60-points club! 12-13 Spencer Quon 65PTS, 13-14 Spencer Quon 69PTS, 14-15 Mitch Crisanti 63PTS, 15-16 Mitchell Cobby 71PTS, 18-19 Lucas Barker 68PTS, 19-20 Alex Suprynowicz 77PTS, 22-23 JJ Pickell 64PTS. Seven players have been able to reach 60 points in Wolf Pack history.
THAT’S OUR ‘COY’
David Coyle made his BCHL debut last night with the West Kelowna Warriors!
Coyle has spent his past 27 games in the KIJHL with the Revelstoke Grizzlies. He has 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points in that span.
The right-shot forward joined the Wolf Pack last season after spending time playing hockey in Sweden. He picked up 28 goals and 30 assists for 58 points in 42 games.
NOTES
- The Wolf Pack has not beaten the Steelers so far this season
- This is the final home game of the regular season for North Vancouver
- North Van concludes their regular season with a trip to Port Moody tomorrow
Final Words
Grandview holds a 3-0 series lead going against the Wolf Pack for the final time during the regular season. The Steelers knocked the Wolf Pack off in a 3-2 overtime road victory on September 17, won a 7-4 home game on November 9, and came away with a tight 4-3 victory on November 20.
