Daniel Dallapace, Ryan Tong and Andrew Kim.
What do these three current Port Moody Panthers players have in common?
Well, they've all had eyes kept close to them from scouts, coaches and general managers in the BC Hockey League (BCHL) and believe their talent is worth a look at a higher level.
In the past month, the Panthers' products — all Burnaby born and raised — have each earned an affiliation promotion with junior 'A' hockey clubs across the province.
Dallapace is the third and latest announcement after signing with the Nanaimo Clippers on Thursday (Dec. 16).
Tong signed on as an affiliate of the Coquitlam Express — who play roughly 5.5 km south at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex from the Port Moody Arena.
Later that same day (Nov. 19), Kim put pen to paper with the Victoria Grizzlies for the 2021-22 season.
SO, HOW DOES IT WORK?
The promotion gives Dallapace, Tong and Kim the chance to potentially play at a higher level of hockey and earn more experience on the ice.
The Port Moody Panthers complete in the Pacific Junior 'B' Hockey League (PJHL), which is one step below the junior 'A' BCHL plateau.
If Nanaimo, Coquitlam or Victoria were to lose a player to injury, be short of skaters at home or on the road, or need extras for when the playoffs roll around, each Panther could get a call to switch sweaters.
Each can suit for up to 10 games in the BCHL when needed, unless Port Moody's season has already ended.
And all three players have made impacts in the red, white and black despite a struggling season for the franchise, which is now enduring its winter break.
Dallapace became the new Port Moody captain after Jayson Beauregard was traded to the White Rock Whalers on Nov. 12.
The 19-year-old veteran defenceman is fifth in team scoring, 17 points with five goals and 12 assists in 29 games
He's also suited up in 85 games in his four-year career with the Panthers and is nearing the top 10 for most games played in by a Port Moody blue-liner in franchise history.
Tong is a rookie that's turning a lot of heads this year as the 17-year-old is currently Port Moody's top scorer with 32 points in 27 games thus far.
He ranks second among all PJHL defencemen in that category, and includes nine goals and a team-high 23 assists.
Thus far, Tong has been called up once to play with the Coquitlam Express.
Kim is third in Panthers' scoring at the end of the first half of the 2021-22 season with 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points.
The 18-year-old notched eight points through his first four games, including a hat-trick on Halloween night (Oct. 31).
He's recorded six multi-point performances — four of which were three-point nights — in 16 games and leads Port Moody with an average of 1.31 points per game.
The Panthers return from the holiday break on Dec. 30 for the fifth annual PJHL Winter Classic at Minoru Arena in Richmond.
Port Moody kicks off the 13-game showcase in a clash with the Aldergrove Kodiaks at 1 p.m., then on New Year's Day (Jan. 1, 2022) at 4 p.m. against the Chilliwack Jets.
