It’s not even Christmas yet but the North Van Wolf Pack can already check off one important item on their 2019 to-do list.
On Saturday the Wolf Pack clinched a spot in the PJHL playoffs with a 6-2 win over the Langley Trappers at Harry Jerome Recreation Centre. Domenic Davis scored a pair of goals while Justin Lee and Jacob Fournier each picked up a goal and two assists as the Wolf Pack raced out to a 4-0 lead in the first period and then withstood a Trappers comeback to earn the victory. Goaltender Niklas Hoem came up big, making 37 saves as Langley outshot North Van 39-30.
The win booked a playoff spot for North Van just 31 games into the league’s 44-game schedule. One day later the Wolf Pack lost for only the sixth time this season, falling 4-0 against the Grandview Steelers in Burnaby. Despite that loss, their first time being shutout this season, the Wolf Pack sit nine points ahead of the Delta Ice Hawks with a 26-6 record through 32 games.
Team captain Lee leads the way with 45 points in 28 games played, good enough for fourth in the league. His linemates Lucas Barker and Fournier have 41 points and 39 points, respectively, to crack the top 15 along with Kaz Minemoto. Davis makes it five Wolf Pack members in the league’s top 20, a testament to the team’s balanced attack.
The Wolf Pack will play their last game before the Christmas break this Saturday when they’ll host the Abbotsford Pilots, leaders of the Harold Brittain Conference, for a 7 p.m. puck drop at Harry Jerome.
