The Greater Vancouver Canadians are going to need more performances like last Sunday to keep pace in the ever-so-tight B.C. Major Midget Hockey League.
The Canadians skated to their most convincing win of the season, a 6-2 triumph over the visiting South Island Thunderbirds.
"I think today was the first time this season we have managed to play for the whole game," said Leland Mack. "I know we are a good team, I believe we are a good team. We just haven't seen it yet. Today was better."
The Thunderbirds (1-6-3) arrived on the Mainland having won just one of eight starts but managed to earn a 2-2 tie in the series opener. The threepoint weekend does lift Greater Vancouver (5-3-2) into a tie for second place, three points back of the front-running Cariboo Cougars. However, the locals are also just two points away from sitting in sixth place, with the league looking deeper than it ever has.
"It's so tight right now that it's going to seem like you are always in it and every weekend those series are going to be big," continued Mack. I like the character this team has. We are 12 forwards deep, with six good defencemen and two good goaltenders. We want to be that team every day like we were today."
The Canadians may soon be without one of their key blueliners."
Sophomore Arvin Atwal's Western Hockey League playing rights were traded last week from the Prince Albert Raiders to the Vancouver Giants.
The North Delta native has already played two games for Vancouver since the trade, including Sunday's win over the Kelowna Rockets.
Mack has seen extra jump in Atwal's game since the deal.
"Arvin sometimes can be really motivated and sometimes not," said Mack. "He was in somewhat of a lull but once he got traded he was back to the Arwin we know and want. "If we lose him (to the WHL) then that's what we want.
If he stays we want him to be the player he is now. He knows there are Giants all around here (at the Ladner Leisure Centre)."
