The Port Coquitlam Trailblazers recently completed their first transaction as the newest Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) franchise.
And the team is hoping some homegrown talent can not only put fans in the stands, but potentially be a driving force in the offensive end.
Markus Jack was traded to the Trailblazers from the Ridge Meadows Flames for future considerations last Wednesday (May 31).
The 17-year-old Port Coquitlam forward just finished his rookie PJHL campaign east of the Pitt River Bridge.
He recorded seven goals and 12 points in 34 regular season games — seventh among Flames first-year players in the 2022-23 season.
But prior to moving up the ranks to junior 'B,' Jack put up impressive numbers as captain of the U18 A1 Port Coquitlam minor hockey club for 2021-22.
In fact, his twig was on fire, plundering the Pirates' scoresheet with 103 points in 36 games, including 39 goals and 64 assists.
"I feel extremely excited to be back in my hometown," Jack said in a post about the trade.
"I am very fortunate to be on the first junior team back in PoCo. I am looking forward to this year and hopeful for a successful season. I am excited to play In front of my hometown fans again."
Jack could even be up for consideration to wear a letter for the purple and gold's inaugural year.
"Markus is the definition of character and hard work," says Trailblazers general manager Ryan Ross.
Jack only played one game in the 2023 PJHL playoffs as Ridge Meadows utilized most of its veteran core to reach the PJHL Stonehouse Cup finals.
The Flames lost the series 4-3 to the Delta Ice Hawks, which needed overtime in game seven to decide the winner.
Team coming together
Jack is officially the eighth committed player for the Port Coquitlam Trailblazers.
He's the also first from PoCo and second from the Tri-Cities after Blake Van Straten in late April
The team held a prospects camp April 21 to 23 to look for players to join its 25-person roster for the fall.
Milin Aujla of Burnaby was unveiled as the first committed player on April 25, and athletes that followed included (in order of announcement):
- Matias Fisher (Surrey)
- James Cowie (Cloverdale)
- Kyle McLaren (Langley)
- Matthew Ng (Burnaby)
- Dawson Hemminger (Maple Ridge)
Port Coquitlam is next scheduled to host an all-star camp in early July.
You can visit the Trailblazers' website for more information.
They became the PJHL's 14th franchise on Jan. 26 during an announcement at Jon Baillie Arena inside the Port Coquitlam Community Centre, where the team will play its home games.
PoCo's nickname was unveiled Feb. 22 with the logo, colours and jerseys released the next day, paying tribute to the city's hockey roots and "the untamed path" and bridge the organization hopes to build with the community.
A 2023–24 PJHL schedule has yet to be released, but the first game is likely to take place in September.
