WolfPack head on the road for two big games vs. Okanagan College

Riding a four game winning streak, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack hockey team hits the road for a pair of contests against the Okanagan College Crusaders in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League. The Pack and the Crusaders will face off Friday night and Saturday night  in Winfield.

“We are playing a more complete game right now,” says WolfPack head coach Chris Hans. “Our coverage in the defensive zone is strong and we have cut down on our opponents scoring chances considerably, while our offense has been balanced over four lines with timely contributions coming from our defenceman.”

The WolfPack enter the weekend with a 12-6 record, good enough for second spot in the league. The Crusaders are 8-10-2 and sit in fourth place. Yet, this weekend will see the two hottest teams in the BCIHL go head to head. TRU is 7-3 in their last 10 games. Okanagan College is 5-4-1.

“While Okanagan College may be behind us in the standings, its not by a wide margin,” says Hans. “We have learned from our games against UVIC and saw the results against SFU that hard work and discipline, when combined with a high level of skill is a successful formula.”

The WolfPack went into UVIC and had lost twice before returning home to beat both them and SFU in games that saw them come up with their strongest outings of the season. TRU has brought in two players in the last couple of weeks which have just added to their depth: defenceman Trent Johnston and forward Kevin Hanna.

“They have brought a fresh perspective to the team,” Hans explains. “ They are excited to be part of the team and bring energy and enthusiasm to our group.”

This weekend’s tilts see the number 10 and 11 scorers in the BCIHL go head to head. TRU’s Jassi Sangha has 13 goals and 15 assists in 18 games. Former Kamloops Blazer Sasha Golin of Okanagan is 11th with 8 goals and 17 assists in 20 games. Golin is also the Crusader captain.

Hans says his club is already going into ‘playoff mode’ with only three weeks left in the season.

“We are focussing on being at our peak for playoffs and based on this past weekend’s performances against SFU, we have a determined team that is playing some pretty good hockey right now.”

The WolfPack will again go with Blake Tancock and Brock Fraser in the nets this weekend. Game times are 9:10 pm on Friday and 8:40 pm on Saturday.

The WolfPack visit Selkirk College next weekend before returning home to entertain UFV in their final two home games of the regular season February 26th and 27th at Memorial Arena.