PJHL Final Series Set

The season for the Delta Ice Hawks was like Judy and ToTo taking a trip up the Yellow Brick Road searching for the wizard to get them back to Kansas.

The season started on a high with GM and Head Coach Steve Robinson putting all the pieces in place for what he was hoping could be the PJHL championship team as they host the Cyclone Taylor Cup April 7-10.

The season for the PJHL wasn’t without concern, wondering if Covid would force a shut-down, but that alone was out of their control as they along with other leagues were forced to deal.

Mother nature is something that was not just out of their control, but all leagues as being a league that only plays in the lower mainland they were forced to deal with the flood in the Fraser Valley.

With the newest franchise the Chilliwack Jets who are playing their first season in the league they are located in the Chilliwack finishing the season with 61 points (30-13-1) in 44 game season.

Delta’s season was more of an up and down ride with players in and out of the roster finishing their 44 games with (27-13-1-3) with 58 points and a massive 1288 PIM’s in third place.

Their first round of the playoffs saw them fight off the Richmond Sockeyes (31-12-1) in a tough seven game series pulling out a squeaker 1-0  win at Minoru Arena advancing them to the second round.

While the first round was difficult they never went down without a fight considering the Whalers pressed and had the Ice Hawks down three games to one, but Delta fought back forcing a six game series.

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League started its third round of the Teck Cup Championship with the Nelson Leaf’s and Kimberley Dynamiters battling for the Kootenay Conference championship, while the Revelstoke Grizzlies take on the President’s Trophy winning Osoyoos Coyotes for the Okanagan Conference title. 

The VIJHL South Division has the Kerry Park Islanders facing the Peninsula Panthers, while the North Division see’s the Campbell River Storm facing off against the Oceanside Generals.

The Panthers defeated Westside Warriors in a six game series ousting them 4-2, while Kerry Park Islanders defeated the Victoria Cougars in four games to advance to the final.

Campbell River defeated the Port Alberni Bombers in an exciting seven game series advancing in the final game, while Oceanside defeated the Comox Glacier Kings also in a seven game series advancing to the North final. 

Four of the six games went to O/T that saw Delta outscored 19 compared to 22 and ranking the penalties they were also close with Delta grabbing 116 minutes compared to White Rock’s 106.

It’s important to know that the Cyclone Taylor Championship hosts the Championships teams from both the KIJHL, the VIJHL as well as the PJHL Champion team, which will be either the Langley Trappers or the White Rock Whalers.

While some fans were questioning the penalty calls dealt out by the officials, let’s first remember that the officials who worked both rounds are top caliber officials who officiate at a higher level.

There’s no question that Delta will be well rested for the Cyclone Taylor Championship and I for one knows that come April the Ice Hawks will be up for the task in hopes of making Delta proud.

If you are looking to promote your business and you would like to be a sponsor for the Cyclone Taylor Championship please send me an e-mail to sportswave@dccnet.com.

While the season was exciting, next season for the PJHL proves to be even more exciting than this one was.

Thanks for supporting the PJHL!!!!