Tonight at the Harry Jerome Rec Centre the North Vancouver Wolf Pack look to get back in the win column and get their 14th win of the season when they clash with one of their biggest rivals, the visiting Langley Trappers, for the first time this season. The Pack had won nine of their last games before Thursday night’s loss in Richmond. The Wolf Pack kick off a two-game weekend with tonight’s home game against the Trappers followed by tomorrow’s game in Chilliwack against the Jets.
Langley Trappers
OVERVIEW
Head Coach: Brad Bakken
Record: 13-3-0-1
Road Record: 5-2-0-1
Last Game: A 4-3 home win over the Surrey Knights on November 3.
Goals For/Goals Against: 70GF / 30GA (+40)
Power Play: 17/62 (27.42%)
Penalty Kill: 4/48 (91.67%)
Leading Scorers: Jamie Hylands (17GP – 9G – 9A – 18PTS), Hayden Yahn (17GP – 8G – 8A – 16PTS), Dylan Wormald (17GP – 5G – 11A – 16PTS), Brendan O’Grady (14GP – 7G – 9A – 16PTS)
Triple Threat
Hayden Yahn, Dylan Wormald, and Brendan O’Grady all have 16 points to their name’s this season. All three players have played together for the Trappers for the last four seasons and their leadership skills and ability to not only produce on the scoresheet, but to also play key minutes at all ends of the ice is something that has greatly benefited them and their team this season. These three players will be looked upon once again when they take on the wolves of North Van.
The ‘Man’
Weighing 195lbs and measuring at 6’2, 2001 born goaltender Caedon Bellmann, has suited up for ten of the seventeen games that his team has played this season. In those ten games, Bellmann has a record of 7-3-0-0, a 1.82 GAA, and a 0.939 SV%, to go along with 2 shutouts. Despite this being his first season in the PJHL, Bellmann has some of the best stats in the league and is currently the best goaltender in the PJHL as he sits directly in front of Wolf Pack goaltender’s Damian Perovic and Sam Gilmore.
‘Trappe’d In First
Langley comes into the game tonight in first place in the Harold Britain Conference and are tied for first place with the Pack in the entire league. The Trappers have a 13-3-0-1 record and 27 points in 17 games this season. Trappers teams have always been able to find success over the years and this team is no different. The Trappers are a fantastic team in all zones and have a fairly young team.
NORTH VANCOUVER WOLF PACK
OVERVIEW
Head Coach: Matt Samson
Record: 13-2-0-1
Home Record: 5-1-0-1
Last Game: A 6-2 defeat to the Sockeyes on November 4.
Goals For/Goals Against: 70GF / 33GA (+37)
Power Play: 16/69 (23.19%)
Penalty Kill: 7/57 (87.72%)
Leading Scorers: JJ Pickell (16GP – 15G – 9A – 24PTS), David Coyle (15GP – 12G – 11A – 23PTS), Ryan Hunter (16GP – 3G – 14A – 17PTS)
Good ‘Da’y
The last time that Wolf Pack forward David Coyle played at Harry Jerome was in last weekend’s 3-0 win over the White Rock Whalers. Coyle will remember that game fondly as he scored all three goals for his team and recorded his first ever PJHL hat trick! Coyle was unable to find the back of the net or register a point on Thursday night against Richmond, but things will soon change with the way that he has been playing lately. Coyle is second on his team and ninth in the league in points with 23, as he has scored 12 times and has earned 11 assists in 15 games.
Pack Attack
The Wolf Pack Penalty Kill on home ice has been one of the team’s strongest attributes this season and has been operating at 96.43%, an outstanding number. It’s a Penalty Kill that has been on the ice 28 times and it has killed all but one opposing Power Play so far this season. When the away penalty killing percentage and the home penalty killing percentage is combined, the Pack sit second in the league with a 87.7 penalty killing percentage. Taking penalties is never a good idea, but the Wolf Pack can breathe a little easier knowing that the chances of them killing a penalty in the game tonight is pretty high!
“Strength of the Pack” has the team in First
North Van comes into the game tonight in first place in the Tom Shaw Conference and are tied for first place with the Trappers in the entire league. The Wolf Pack has a 13-2-0-1 record and 27 points in 16 games this season, one game less than the Trappers. Just like the Trappers, Wolf Pack teams have been quite successful over the years and this year’s Wolf Pack team is no different. The Wolf Pack are at the top for a reason and they plan on staying there too.
Final Words
The winner of this game will be in sole possession of first place in the PJHL. The Trappers have a pretty good Power Play, an outstanding penalty kill, and are able to get offence from all of their players. The Wolf Pack also have a good Power Play and Penalty Kill, and are tied with the Trappers in points with 27, but have played one less game. With first place on the line, this should be an excellent game tonight at Harry Jerome.
