Prospects Game – Huge Success

The Annual Pacific Junior B Hockey League Prospects game was hosted at home of the expansion White Rock Whalers that saw Ryan Denney give his team a 5-4 winner with 2:25 remaining in regulation time.

The game was a fast paced and exciting game that saw both teams have numerous chances as well as deliver some solid hits that brought the fans to their feet.

In total referee Evan Dahl called 12 minors that saw several scouts taking in the PJHL prospects game.

The Tom Shaw Conference opened an early 2-0 lead, but they did have their first goal disallowed and was ruled for the net being off its normal position.

The Tom Shaw stars scored two goals late in the first on goals by Richmond’s Craig Schouten and Steelers Emerson Kostner of Grandview taking a 2-0 lead to the first intermission while also holding a 10-5 edge in shots.

Pilots Mason Smith get his first of three at 1:47 in managing to slide one past Tom Shaw starter Jordy Engleson (Delta) pulling them within one.

He (Smith) managed to tie the game collecting his second of the game a short 5:30 apart making the game take a turn for the better, rather than have a “blow-out” for one team or the other to the delight of many.

Wolf Pack’s Jacob Fournier gave the Shaw Conference a 3-2 lead at 12:45 with helpers going to Newman (Mission City) and Willoughby (Abby) on a nifty three-way passing play.

Smith notched his third of the period and game at 18:31 again tying the game at three that saw Konzak (Langley) and Warburton (Langley) get the assists.

Trappers Adam Nobles gave the Harold Brittain Conference a 4-3 as the two teams headed to the dressing rooms after two.

It took until the 5:48 mark of the third that saw the Tom Shaw Conference tie the game at four with Alvarado (Richmond) get set up from Robinson (Port Moody) and McDonald (Delta) get rewarded with assists on the play.

The see-saw battle continued with the game tied at 4 until 17:35 when Denney (Ridge Meadows) hammered home the solo marker which turned out to be the eventual game winner

Shots in the game were 31-28 for the Tom Shaw Conference that saw Delta’s Jordy Engleson (starter) and North Van Wolfpack Niklas Hoem combine for 23 in the loss.

The other of the ice saw Kodiaks Dylan Black and Ridge Meadows Eric Clark combine for a total of 27 saves through 60 minutes..

The official ceremony puck drop was conducted by “White Rock Whalers” special guest Red Gleason (July 30/1956) who was born in Saskatoon that saw the Family move to BC when he was a young 12 years of age.  

He did play a stint of Junior hockey and following his playing days he turned his attention to coaching in the Pacific Coast hockey League.

He coached the Surrey Stampeders as well as the Junior Vancouver Canucks (1978) as well as coaching the 1975 Junior B hockey team that attended the 1975 BC that went to the Canada Winter games.