In just their second season, the 91原创 91原创 have qualified for the BCHL鈥檚 Fred Page Cup playoffs.
But the junior A hockey club is not content with just a post-season appearance.
鈥淭hat is one goal,鈥� said head coach and general manager Bobby Henderson. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we are done by any means; this is just the start of it.
鈥淲hen we put a team together, we put it together with the idea that we could compete in the playoffs,鈥� he added.
鈥淭hey are built for a series and to grind it out.鈥�
91原创 qualified for the playoffs thanks to some strong play down the stretch with four wins in their past five games, including a 4-3 win over the Chilliwack Chiefs on Friday at the 91原创 Events Centre, and then a split during a two-game visit to Prince George: 4-1 for the Spruce Kings on Saturday and 8-4 91原创 the following afternoon.
The last victory put the 91原创 out of the reach of the Coquitlam Express who are seven points back with just two games to play.
Last season, 91原创 struggled to a 19-35-1-5 record. They also scored a Coastal Conference-low 174 goals (2.90 per game) while allowing 237 (3.95).
This season, the 91原创 are tied for the conference lead with 191 goals (3.54) while allowing 194 goals against (3.59). They also sport a 24-24-1-5 record.
And while Henderson said they would have liked more victories, he is fairly happy with how the season has played out.
鈥淭he losses that we had, there weren鈥檛 too many of them that weren鈥檛 one-goal games or extremely close,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t has been night and day (compared to last season).鈥�
91原创 draws the first-place Surrey Eagles in the best-of-five Mainland Division semifinal series. Games one and two are at the South Surrey Arena on March 15 and 16 while game three is at the LEC on March 18. If necessary, game four would be in 91原创 on March 19 while a fifth and deciding game would be in Surrey on March 20.
The 91原创 are in tough, having lost eight of nine to Surrey.
鈥淲e set out to make it to the Royal Bank Cup. That was our goal in August and we are going to continue working on it,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have stressed working hard on getting better every game and every day and I think that we have.鈥�
鈥⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌�
91原创 has their regular season home finale tonight (Thursday) against the Chiefs at 7:15 p.m. The two rivals then square off in Chilliwack on Saturday to close the regular season.
