Tonight at 7:30 p.m. the North Vancouver Wolf Pack (28-7-3-1) play a rare road game on a Saturday night as they head to White Rock (22-13-1-0) to conclude the season series against the Whalers.
White Rock Whalers
OVERVIEW
Head Coach: Jason Rogers
Record: 23-13-1-0
Home Record: 9-8-1-0
Last Game: A 5-2 win last night against Ridge Meadows.
Goals For/Goals Against: 133 GF/119 GA (+14)
Power Play: 34/132 (25%)
Penalty Kill: 32/153 (79.08%)
Leading Scorers: Chris Fortems (35GP – 13G – 39A – 52PTS), Ewan Rennie (20GP – 17G – 18A – 35PTS), Cole Svendson (30GP – 17G – 11A – 28PTS), Matthew Burry (37GP-14G-14A-28P)
MY ‘SON’ CAN ‘BURRY’
It is impossible to talk about the success of the Whalers this season without talking about forwards Cole Svendson (2002) and Matthew Burry (2001). Svendson (30 games played) and Burry (37 games played) have 28 points and sit third and fourth in team scoring, respectively. Burry has an assist in four games against the Pack while Svendson has managed three goals and four assists in four games against North Van.
ABOVE SEA LEVEL
The White Rock Whalers enter the game tonight as the fifth ranked team in the PJHL. The team’s record of 23-13-1-0 places them in third place in the Tom Shaw Conference with 47 points in 37 games, two points ahead of the fourth placed Richmond Sockeyes and 15 points ahead of the Grandview Steelers. The Whalers have gone 6-2-2-0 in its last 10 games and will look to continue its success against the best team in the PJHL.
NORTH VANCOUVER WOLF PACK
OVERVIEW
Head Coach: Matt Samson
Record: 28-7-3-1
Road Record: 15-4-0-0
Last Game: A 4-2 road victory in Grandview last Sunday
Goals For/Goals Against: 156 GF/98 GA (+58)
Power Play: 36/162 (22.22%)
Penalty Kill: 19/148 (87.16%)
Leading Scorers: David Coyle (38GP – 25G – 27A – 52PTS), JJ Pickell (38GP – 27G – 24A – 51PTS), Ryan Hunter (39GP – 14G – 31A – 45PTS)
A NICE S’ONG’
Jeong is in his first year of PJHL hockey and has played in 21 games with the Wolf Pack so far this season. The 2004 born product and right-shot defenceman of North Vancouver has four assists and is yet to find a goal. Jeong has one assist against the White Rock Whalers and hopes to add to his points total tonight.
ON THE ‘HUNT’
2003-born forward Ryan Hunter is the reigning Popeyes Player of the Month for November and December for his team. The product of Squamish, BC heads into the weekend with 45 points (14G, 31A). Hunter has two assists in three games against the Whalers so far this season. Hunter led his team to victory Sunday night in Grandview scoring two goals and being named the first star of the game as the Wolf Pack doubled the Steelers 4-2. Ryan Hunter sits third on his team in scoring and 12th in the PJHL.
FINAL WORDS
This is the sixth and final regular season meeting between these two teams. The Whalers lead the season series 3-2 as the Pack won the first meeting 3-0 on October 30th and beat White Rock 4-3 on December 18 while the Whalers beat North Van 4-3 on November 14, 5-1 on December 19 and 4-3 in an overtime victory at Harry Jerome on January 23rd. The Wolf Pack have an 8-3-2-0 record against White Rock over the past five seasons.
Written by Giancarlo Nadeau
