There’s no time for the upstart Port Coquitlam Trailblazers to celebrate its first playoff series win in just the team’s second season.
The Trailblazers opens its Pacific Junior Hockey League conference semi-final series against the Delta Ice Hawks tonight (Feb. 18) at the Ladner Leisure Centre. The remainder of the schedule for the best-of-seven series has yet to be announced.
Port Coquitlam advanced after defeating the North Vancouver Wolfpack 4-2 Sunday at the PoCo Community Centre to sweep their best-of-three opening round "Survivor" series in two straight games.
Trailblazers captain Markus Jack said reaching the second playoff round after just two seasons is an “amazing” accomplishment that puts all the pressure on the team’s opponents going forward.
“We’re underdogs,” said Jack, who had two goals and two assists in the two games against the Wolfpack after finishing the season with 80 points in 48 games. “‘We’ve got no pressure right now. We just have to keep that same fight going.”
Port Coquitlam and Delta split the four games they played against each other in the regular season with the Trailblazers prevailing 6-5 in a shootout the last time they met, Jan. 31 at the PoCo Community Centre.
The Ice Hawks finished the season atop the PJHL’s Tom Shaw conference standings with 72 points in 48 games, while the Trailblazers were fifth and only clinched its spot in the post season with a 6-3 win over North Vancouver in their final game of the regular season.
Matthew Biros, a trade deadline acquisition in early January from the Devon Xtreme of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, scored four times and added an assist to lead all Trailblazers scorers in the team’s playoff victory over the Wolfpack.
He said the team is loose and enjoying its unlikely success.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “Just going out there and having fun is why I love this game.”
Port Coquitlam returned to the PJHL in the 2023-24 season, 17 years after the old Buckaroos departed for Port Moody in 2006.
The team finished its inaugural campaign in last place in the league standings, with just seven wins in 48 games.
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