It hardly seems like a prize worthy enough for the North Vancouver Wolf Pack's breakthrough campaign in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League.
After struggling for three seasons in Squamish, the Wolf Pack relocated to the North Shore and the moved instantly paid off with a much more competitive year. In the only real suspense during the stretch run, North Van held off the Grandview Steelers to claim the final playoff spot in the Tom Shaw Conference.
Their reward is a best-of-seven series with the defending league champions who were a whopping 31 points better than them in the regular season.
The Richmond Sockeyes also won all six league meetings by an aggregate score of 35-10.
The quarter-final match-up opens Thursday night at Minoru Arena (7: 30 p.m.) before shifting to the Harry Jerome recreation centre for games two and three on Friday and Saturday. The teams will continue the blistering pace by playing their fourth game in as many nights on Sunday back at Minoru (4: 45 p.m.).
Richmond closed out the season with a mean nothing 7-5 loss to Grandview on Sunday. It was just the locals seventh loss in 44 games. Veteran Rudi Thorsteinson scored twice in a losing cause. Icing...
. The other Tom Shaw Conference series looks to be much more intriguing with the Delta Ice Hawks facing the North Delta Devils. Just six points seperated these teams in the final standings with the Hawks enjoying home ice advantage.
. Sockeyes rookie and Richmond Minor product Carter Popoff is now property of the Vancouver Giants. The Western Hockey League club recently signed the 16-year-old forward and Popoff made his major junior debut on Feb. 18 against Everett.
He will continue to be available on a call-up basis. The 5-foot-9 and 180-pounder is a leading candidate for rookie-of-the-year honours in the PIJHL with 61 points in 41 games, including 25 goals. Those numbers left him fourth in league scoring.
