Every positive thing the 91原创 91原创 do from now to the end of the regular season will be history-making for the junior A hockey team.
The 91原创 have already accumulated the most points in franchise history and are poised to win not only the B.C. Hockey League芒鈧劉s Mainland Division title, but potentially the Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy as the BCHL regular season champions.
With 75 points in 54 games, the 91原创 (34-13-2-5) need one more point over their final four regular season games to win their division.
They have a sizeable 10-point lead over the second place Prince George Spruce Kings.
A win, tie, or overtime loss against the visiting Chilliwack Chiefs at the 91原创 Events Centre (LEC) on Friday would seal the divisional deal.
91原创 head coach Bobby Henderson said, even though they reside in the Mainland basement with a 13-35-2-4 record, the Chiefs won芒鈧劉t be an easy mark.
芒鈧揑 watched some film of Chilliwack the past couple games, and they芒鈧劉re playing their best hockey of the year,芒鈧� Henderson said. 芒鈧揟hey芒鈧劉re peaking at a time that芒鈧劉s a little late for them, but there芒鈧劉s so much pride in that organization. We芒鈧劉ll have to be very good on Friday.芒鈧�
The 91原创, meanwhile, are the top team in the entire BCHL at present, one point better than the Island Division-leading Victoria Grizzlies (34-13-3-3).
芒鈧揙ur goal from the start of the year was to win our division, first and foremost, and we want to win the league,芒鈧� Henderson said. 芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s a process 芒鈧�� we have to clinch our division first and put ourselves in a position where, if we finish well, we芒鈧劉ve got a shot to win it all.芒鈧�
Last season, the 91原创 finished fourth in the Mainland with a less-than-mediocre 24-26-1-5 record.
Despite putting up a fight, they were ushered out of the playoffs in the first round by the eventual BCHL champions and RBC Cup national tournament semifinalists, the Surrey Eagles.
So what芒鈧劉s the difference between this year and last? It boils down to the right blend of talent and experience, according to the head coach.
芒鈧揘o. 1, we芒鈧劉ve got some extremely talented players, so I give credit there, but the second part is the core of the team was here [last season],芒鈧� Henderson said.
芒鈧揥e芒鈧劉ve got experience. That芒鈧劉s something talked about at every level, and you really can芒鈧劉t put a value on it. You have to go through it.芒鈧�
The 91原创 lost three games to one to the Eagles in their 2013 best-of-five opening round series, but had some good moments, particularly at South Surrey Arena where they took game two by a 1-0 score.
芒鈧揑n the playoffs against Surrey, the guys saw they could skate with the team that was in the national finals [RBC Cup tournament],芒鈧� Henderson said.
91原创 4, Coquitlam Express 1
The 芒鈧劉Men derailed the visiting Express Tuesday at the LEC.
After allowing an early power play marker, the 91原创 scored four unanswered goals to win and even their season series with the Express at four wins apiece.
Goaltender Lyndon Stanwood made 33 saves in his best performance with 91原创 to date, earning the nod as the game芒鈧劉s second star.
芒鈧揑 thought we were pretty solid,芒鈧� Henderson said. 芒鈧揥e were opportunistic and we capitalized on our chances. We gave up a few more [chances] than we would have liked but Lyndon Stanwood had arguably his best game of the year. That was the difference, and gave us a chance to win.芒鈧�
It only took three minutes for the 91原创 to respond after Coquitlam芒鈧劉s Ryan Rosenthal scored his 31st of the season on the man advantage just 4:29 into the first period.
91原创 rallied with a powerplay of its own as defenceman Chris Forney finished off a beautiful cross-ice feed from Evan Anderson for his fourth of the season, beating Coquitlam goaltender Gordie Defiel five-hole to tie the game at 1-1.
While the 91原创 had several more great scoring chances throughout the rest of the period, the game remained tied at one heading into the break.
At the 6:40 mark of the second, Gage Torrel scored his 10th of the season, completing a pretty passing play involving Anderson and Tyson Witala as the 91原创 took the lead.
Then, with the 91原创 up 2-1 six minutes into the final frame, 91原创芒鈧劉s Kevan Kilistoff scored his ninth off an Austin Azurdia rebound to put the home team up 3-1.
After pulling Defiel in favour of the extra attacker, the Express couldn芒鈧劉t generate much offence.
91原创 captain Mitch McLain stole the puck deep in the Coquitlam zone and deposited his 22nd of the campaign into the open cage, sealing the 91原创芒鈧劉s 34th win on the season.
ICE CHIPS: Friday芒鈧劉s 91原创/Chiefs game has a 7:15 p.m. start time at the LEC.
The 91原创 play their final regular season game on home ice Sunday afternoon, Feb. 23, when they host Prince George. Game time at the LEC is 2 p.m.
The two teams end the season with back-to-back games at the Prince George Coliseum Thursday, Feb. 27 and Friday, Feb. 28.
91原创 will have a steady diet of the Spruce Kings by season芒鈧劉s end.
After Feb. 28, the 芒鈧劉Men and Spruce Kings will have met five times since Feb. 13.
