B.C. Division Update

Early January is an exciting time for junior hockey fans. We speculate and project regular season successes or failures, watch for trade deadline deals and if we’re really fortunate, we can all unite and revel in the fun associated with Canada competing for a gold medal at the annual World Junior Championship.

Indeed, this month has it all!

The B.C. Division has suddenly become ultra-competitive. Plenty of divisional games have been squeezed into a relatively short time frame. This has produced some interesting results. Safe to say the rivalries are heating up!

 

Prince George Cougars (27-10-2-0…56 points)
Games remaining: 33
Divisional games: 15
Kelowna: 4; Victoria: 2; Kamloops: 6; Vancouver: 3.

pgThe Cougars have had some time off after a three-game road trip following the Christmas break. Although the team has gone 7-3 in its last ten games, Prince George recently dropped back-to-back games to the Victoria Royals on Vancouver Island. Coincidentally, the Cougars return to action this weekend, when they will host the Royals for a double dip at the CN Centre. Following this important weekend, Prince George will take its show on the road and play four games against Central Division teams.

TRADE: On Jan. 5, Prince George acquired import forward Nikita Popugaev from Moose Jaw in exchange for import forward Yan Khomenko, forward Justin Almeida, a second round pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft and a fifth round pick in 2017.

 

Kamloops Blazers (24-15-1-1…50 points)
Games remaining: 31
Divisional games: 18
Prince George: 6; Victoria: 4; Kelowna: 5; Vancouver: 3.

Kamloops has held its own despite the loss of three key players to the WJC, all of whom will be back very soon. Over the past couple of weeks of play, goaltender Dylan Ferguson has been outstanding, making trade rumours concerning potentially untouchable Connor Ingram perhaps minutely credible now. The Blazers play a home-and-home set with Kelowna this weekend, the shortest road for either team. The Blazers have won three of five against the Rockets so far this season. In a curious scheduling quirk, Kamloops will depart Kelowna after Saturday’s game and travel to Portland for one game against the Winterhawks. It’s a 5:00pm start on Sunday following a ten-hour drive! Late in January and into February, Kamloops will spend about ten days on the road, playing five games against U.S. Division teams. Yes, Portland will be on their dance card again.

TRADE: On Jan. 5, Kamloops acquired Lane Bauer and a seventh round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft from Edmonton in exchange for 17-year-old defenceman Conner McDonald, a second round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft and a fifth round pick in the 2018.

 

Kelowna Rockets (23-14-3-0…49 points)
Games remaining: 32
Divisional games: 19
Prince George: 4; Victoria: 4; Kamloops: 5; Vancouver: 6.

The Rockets have dropped three games in a row, two of them in the friendly confines of Prospera Place. Prior to the break in the schedule, the Rockets had made it a habit to be less than hospitable hosts, chasing the opposition’s starting goaltenders with some regularity. Of late, they have been victimized by Griffin Outhouse (Victoria) and Jayden Sittler (Spokane), a pair of goalies that have stood on their heads to backstop their respective teams to wins over Kelowna. It is plain to see that the Rockets need reinforcements – and this will happen soon. Calvin Thurkauf (SWI) and Tomas Soustal (CZE) are ready to play this weekend and it is hoped Dillon Dube (CAN) will return with a WJC gold medal. Defenceman Gordie Ballhorn is also close. Kelowna plays its next four games against Kamloops (2) and Victoria (2), with three of those games on the road.

 

Victoria Royals (21-15-4-0…46 points)
Games remaining: 32
Divisional games: 18
Prince George: 2; Kamloops: 4; Kelowna: 4; Vancouver: 8.

vicVictoria is the hottest team in the division right now, going 4-0-1 in its last five games. The Royals played four games in five nights during the final week of December…and won them all against division rivals. Next up is tough four-game stretch that includes the lengthy road trip to Prince George for two games this weekend. The Royals then return home to host Kelowna for two games. This is a schedule that will have an interesting impact on the B.C. Division standings. The Royals did not lose any players to international tournament of late and are riding the other-worldly goaltending of Griffin Outhouse.

 

Vancouver Giants (16-20-1-2…35 points)
Games remaining: 35
Divisional games: 20
Prince George: 3; Kamloops: 3; Kelowna: 6; Victoria: 8.

vanThe Giants have collected a pair of wins to start their road trip through the Central Division, beating Calgary in a shootout and Edmonton in overtime. They are doing what they have to do to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. Upon their return home after three more road games out east, they will face division rivals in 20 of their remaining 32 games, effectively a bunch of four-point games. This is exactly what the young Giants need, a litmus test of sorts. With some inspired play and a some good fortune, Vancouver can play an important role in the division standing during the second half of the season.