Tonight at the Port Moody Arena, the North Vancouver Wolf Pack look to start their week off with a win and extend their winning streak to seven games when they clash with the Port Moody Panthers at 8:00 PM. Tonight marks the second time this season that the Wolf Pack will play the Panthers as they last played them on October 16. Matt Samson’s crew would love to start their 3 game week off on a winning note when the puck drops tonight in Port Moody.
PORT MOODY PANTHERS
OVERVIEW
Head Coach: Terry Morrison
Record: 2-13-0-0
Home Record: 1-8-0-0
Last Game: A 4-3 home win over the Surrey Knights on October 23.
Goals For/Goals Against: 42 GF/87 GA (-45)
Power Play: 13/72 (18.06%)
Penalty Kill: 19/82 (76.83%)
Leading Scorers: Sukhraj Narwal (15GP – 3G – 10A – 13PTS), Connor Hughes (14GP – 9G – 3A – 12PTS), Ryan Tong (10GP – 3G – 7A – 10PTS)
‘Su’per Man
Sukhraj Narwal, the 2002 born forward from Surrey, BC leads his team in points (13) and assists (10) in the 15 games that he has played this season. Prior to this season, Sukhraj has played his last three seasons with the Panthers organization and in 63 total games he has recorded 37 points. He is one Panther that the Pack will need to keep an eye on.
Moody Panthers
The Panthers enter tonight’s game in 12th place out of the 13 teams in the PJHL. They are only 1 point ahead of the last placed Surrey Knights. Port Moody has already lost to the Pack this season and they have a home record of 1-8-0-0. Only four of the 24 players on the Panthers roster have 10 or more points. The Panthers season is still young, but the light at the end of the tunnel is going away faster and faster.
NORTH VANCOUVER WOLF PACK
OVERVIEW
Head Coach: Matt Samson
Record: 10-1-0-1
Road Record: 6-0-0-0
Last Game: A 5-3 home victory over the Chilliwack Jets on October 23.
Goals For/Goals Against: 50 GF/23 GA (+27)
Power Play: 11/51 (21.57%)
Penalty Kill: 3/39 (92.31%)
Leading Scorers: JJ Pickell (12GP – 14G – 6A – 20PTS), Alex Binette (12GP – 3G – 11A – 14PTS), David Coyle (11GP – 7G – 7A – 14PTS)
A ‘Hunt’ing Wolf
In 12 regular season games, 2003 born forward and alternate captain Ryan Hunter has scored three goals and has been awarded with 10 assists which is good for 13 points in 12 games. This is Ryan’s second season on the pack as he suited up for three games with the pack last season in a season that got cut short. Hunter is a noticeable player when he is on the ice as he has had no trouble with putting points up on the scoreboard and because of the big hits and key minutes that he has had so far this season. Expect Ryan Hunter to have another great game tonight.
Hunting Early
The Pack have won their last six games. In five of those six games they have scored the first goal of the game. Scoring the first goal is always important, but it has greatly benefited the Pack this season and if they can get the lead in the game tonight than they are in a great spot to win the hockey game.
A Chance For First
Heading into action tonight the Wolf Pack have 21 points in 12 games which is good for first place in their conference (Tom Shaw Conference). The Wolf Pack sit at third place in the league tonight as they are one point behind both the Langley Trappers and the Ridge Meadows Flames. The Flames are in action tonight against the Delta Ice Hawks and if they lose and the Pack end up beating the Panthers, the Wolf Pack would be the new first placed team in the PJHL!
COMPARISON:
When you look at the matchup between these two clubs, The Pack lead in the vast majority of categories. It is the Panthers who have played an extra game, but it is the Pack that has a much nicer record. It is important to note that the Wolf Pack is 13-0-0-0 against the Panthers over the last five seasons. Despite this stat and the many others that favor the Pack, no team should ever be taken lightly in the PJHL.
