The Western Hockey League is returning to Port Coquitlam.
For the second straight year, the Jon Baillie arena at the city’s new $132-million Port Coquitlam Community Centre (PCCC) will host a pre-season mini tournament involving the Vancouver Giants, Victoria Royals and Prince George Cougars.
The same three teams played a pair of games at the PCCC last September. Both games drew enthusiastic crowds to the arena, that has a capacity of 843 including the concourse area.
This year, the Giants will play the Cougars on Friday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. and the next night — also at 7 p.m. — Prince George faces the Royals.
“As we witnessed last year our community are big fans and strong supporters of hockey and we will deliver yet another unforgettable experience for everyone,” said Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West in a news release.
The games will be an appetizer for the city’s own fledgling junior hockey team, the Port Coquitlam Trailblazers, which makes its debut in the Pacific Junior Hockey League later in September.
Vancouver lawyer and local minor hockey coach Rob Toor was awarded the Junior ‘B’ league’s 14th franchise last January.
“There’s amazing passion for hockey in the community,” Toor said at a ceremony announcing the new team, the city’s first junior hockey franchise since the old Buckeroos departed for Port Moody in 2006.
Since then the team announced its name, colours, coaching staff and its first two players — defence man Milin Aujla and forward Blake Van Straten.
Earlier this month, the Trailblazers acquired hometown forward Markus Jack from the Ridge Meadows Flames, where he scored 12 points in 34 regular season games in his rookie campaign in the junior league. As captain of the U18 A1 Port Coquitlam Pirates the year prior, Jack amassed 103 points in 36 games.
The Trailblazers will hold an all-star camp to identify potential prospects July 6-8.
Tickets for the WHL exhibition games in Port Coquitlam will be available through the WHL’s website.
- with a file from Kyle Balzer, Tri-City News
