PREVIEW: Ridge Meadows Flames vs. North Van Wolf Pack (Game #40)

Bradley Crompton began his PJHL playing career with the Wolf Pack during the 2012-13 regular season. Crompton would play 36 games with North Vancouver before playing for Ridge Meadows and ending his career in Delta in 2017-18. Tonight, two of Crompton’s former teams go head to head for a 6:45 PM puck drop at Harry Jerome. The game marks the third meeting of the season with the Flames leading the season series 2-0.

 

RIDGE MEADOWS FLAMES

OVERVIEW

GM: Derek Bedard

HC: Brent Hughes

Road Record: 15-4-0-1

Record: 27-9-2-1 (39 games)

Last Game: A 10-1 blowout victory at home last night against Aldergrove.

Goals: Kochan (33, 34, 35), Kujala (18 PP, 19), Konowalchuk (1, 2), Wise (3), Leroux (14), Lagrange (15 PP)

Goaltending: Winters 18/19

Special teams: 3/4 PP, 4/4 PK

Goals For/Goals Against 175 GF/119 GA (+56)

Power Play: 51/173 (29.48%)

Penalty Kill: 33/155 (78.71%)

Leading Scorers: Theo Kochan (39GP – 35G – 32A – 67PTS), Jack Foster (35GP –  16G – 42A – 58PTS), Jordan Kujala (38GP–19G–21A– 40PTS)

 

ASTRONAUT IN THE KOCHAN

Theo Kochan leads his team and all 2004-born players in points this season. The right-shot native of Pitt Meadows, BC has 35 goals and 32 assists for 67 points in 39 games. Kochan is in his first year of PJHL hockey and is enjoying every bit of it. Listed at 5’10” and 170 lbs, he suited up at the BCHC Top Prospects Game in Chilliwack back in November.

 

STARS ON THE BENCH

The Flames are currently third in the PJHL and sent six players to the BCHC Top Prospects game in Chilliwack, but they also have coaches with a successful hockey past. Head Coach Brent Hughes played 357 games in the NHL for the Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Islanders. He also played 328 games in the AHL. 

Mike Legg is arguably one of the most popular people to ever put on a pair of skates as he is the one to thank for the “Michigan” goal in 1996. Legg was awarded “Goal of the Year” by Inside Hockey and his stick is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was drafted in 1993 by the New Jersey Devils and played 6 seasons of pro hockey in Europe and the US. 

 

BCHL ALERTS

The Flames are tied with North Vancouver for BCHL player affiliations this season. Ridge Meadows players include Theo Kochan (Coquitlam Express), Brandon Osborne, Lukas Ravenstein, Jakob Loewen (Surrey Eagles), Zack Lagrange, Cohen Muc (Chilliwack Chiefs), and Matt Wise (Cowichan Valley Capitals).

 

NORTH VANCOUVER WOLF PACK

OVERVIEW

General Manager: Dean Samson

Head Coach: Mike Borrelli

Record: 20-16-2-1

Home Record: 10-8-1-0

Last Game: A 7-3 home victory last Saturday over Surrey.

Goals: Pickell (28, 29), Burgess (1), Carniel (13), Hunter (7), Binette (18), Swampy (5)

Goaltending: Bencsik 25/28

Special teams: 1/3 PP, 3/3 PK

Goals For/Goals Against 143 GF/150 GA (-7)

Power Play: 43/187 (22.99%)

Penalty Kill: 40/160 (75%)

Leading Scorers: JJ Pickell (36GP – 29G – 24A – 53PTS), Andrew Casellato (33GP – 15G – 29A – 44PTS), Ryan Hunter (31GP – 7G – 31A -38PTS)

 

PLAYOFF HUNTING

A point for the Wolf Pack or a loss for Port Moody is all that is needed for North Vancouver to lock up a spot in the postseason. Richmond, Delta, White Rock, and Grandview have all locked up spots. North Vancouver has a record of 20-16-2-1 in 39 games with 43 points. Port Moody is 16 points back of the Wolf Pack and must win all eight of the remaining games while North Vancouver can’t earn a single point for the rest of the season. 

 

ICED HAWKS

Recently, the league investigated allegations of the Delta Ice Hawks participating in games using an illegal roster. The Delta Ice Hawks had to forfeit eight points which have caused a big shakeup in the PJHL standings as a result.  Delta took on Surrey, Richmond, North Vancouver, and Chilliwack. The Richmond Sockeyes are now first in the Tom Shaw Conference with 64 points while Delta is exactly eight points back of Richmond. The Chilliwack Jets are now tied for 3rd with the Mission City Outlaws in the Harold Brittain with 42 points.

 

NOTES

  • At 29.5% Ridge Meadows has the best power play in the PJHL.
  • North Vancouver has points in its past six games and has won its past five.
  • The Flames have won their past two games including a 10-1 win over Aldergrove last night and a 6-3 victory in Chilliwack on January 15.
  • Luke Bradley is one of two defencemen who played with the Wolf Pack last season. Bradley is also in his first season as an alternate captain.
  • North Vancouver will host the Langley Trappers on January 28 for the team’s 15th anniversary alumni night.

 

Final Words

It’s the third meeting of the season and the second and final game here at Harry Jerome between these two clubs. The Flames took down the Wolf Pack 7-4 on home ice on October 7 and were victorious 4-3 in North Vancouver on November 12. The season series wraps up next Friday at Cam Neely Arena.