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5th Annual PJHL Winter Classic starts Friday at Minoru

Host Sockeyes take on Abbotsford and North Vancouver
Sockeyes
Goaltender Braedy Euerby and the Richmond Sockeyes return to work Friday at 7 p.m. when they take on Abbotsford at the PJHL Winter Classic at Minoru Arenas. Richmond also plays North Vancouver on Sunday at 7 p.m.

The Richmond Sockeyes return form the holiday break on Friday night as hosts of the Fifth Annual Pacific Junior Hockey League Winter Classic.

The three-day event showcases all 12 teams playing two regular season games at Minoru Arenas.

The Sockeyes will face the Abbotsford Pilots at 7 p.m. tomorrow before closing out the Winter Classic against the league-leading North Vancouver Wolf Pack on Sunday at 7 p.m.

Richmond takes a three-game win streak into 2020 that includes a 2-0 win at Abbotsford on Dec. 20. The Sockeyes (20-8-1-4) sit third in the Tom Shaw Conference but are just one point behind the Grandview Steelers with two games in hand.

The two clubs seem destined for another opening round playoff match-up with home ice advantage being determined over the final month of the regular season.

The high-flying Wolf Pack take a 29-01-0-1 record into the Winter Classic and are on pace to establish the best regular season finish in league history. The Sockeyes handed North Vancouver its only regular season loss (5-0) back on Sept. 28. The defending champions have since won the last two meetings.

Here is the entire PJHL Winter Classic schedule at Minoru. Daily admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and students and $5 for kids 6-to-12. That covers all four games each day.

Friday, Jan. 3

10 a.m. North Vancouver vs. Grandview

1 p.m. White Rock vs. Surrey

4 p.m. Langley vs. Aldergrove

7 p.m. Richmond vs. Abbotsford

Saturday, Jan. 4

10 a.m. Surrey vs. Port Moody

1 p.m. Mission vs. White Rock

4 p.m. Grandview vs. Delta

7 p.m. Ridge Meadows vs. Abbotsford

Sunday, Jan. 5

10 a.m. Delta vs. Langley

1 p.m. Port Moody vs. Mission

4 p.m. Aldergrove vs. Ridge Meadows

7 p.m. North Vancouver vs. Richmond

Icing…

Also coming this month are the new look All-Star and Prospects games. 

The PJHL has reached a partnership with the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League that will see the two play against each other. The Prospects Game goes Sunday, Jan. 12 in Nanaimo, while the All-Star Game will be hosted by the Delta Ice Hawks, Sunday, Jan. 26 (2 p.m.) at the Ladner Leisure Centre.

Impressive rookie forwards Garrett Wicks and Mattias Hohlweg have been named to the PJHL Prospects Game roster. They sit second and fourth in the league respectively in freshman scoring.