BCHL Coastal Conference Team Reports:

This is in the BC Hockey Now Magazine:

BCHL Coastal Conference Team Reports

Wednesday, February 2, 2011 /

By Mark Janzen /

With the trade deadline come and gone and with the season down to its final 10 games, there is still plenty amuck in the Coastal Conference playoff picture.
Other than the Powell River Kings finishing first, nothing, including the final playoff spot, is set in stone.

POWELL RIVER KINGS

The Kings had no reason to make any deadline moves as they’ve been cruising along just fine atop the conference standings for much of the year. Right after the deadline, Powell River went on a four-game winning streak, three of which came on the road as part of a five-game trip. Although they won the first three games on that trip, the big tests came at the end when they traveled to play the best of the Interior conference in Vernon and Penticton. While the Kings put up a good fight in both contests, they lost them both and will be look to regain momentum coming down the stretch and will have to do so against local rivals as nine of their final 10 games are against Coastal Conference teams.

SURREY EAGLES

Like the Kings, the Eagles stood pat at the deadline as they were well prepared to tackle the playoffs with the players already in their dressing room. And after Jan. 10, Surrey hit the Island for a five-game road trip that saw them go 3-2-0-0, followed by a win over Langley upon their arrival back home. Eagles leading scorer Bradley McGowan has especially caught fire of late as he’s collected 11 points in his last five games. Surrey finishes the season with five home games and five road games, including one last three-game trip to the Island.

LANGLEY CHIEFS

The only move the Chiefs made at the deadline was trading 20-year-old defenceman Brad Haber to the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for futures. With Langley having seven capable blueliners, there just wasn’t room for Haber on their back end. But since the deadline, the Chiefs have struggled, going 1-3-0-2. Langley allowed 27 goals in that span and, since replacing Wyatt Galley early in the Chiefs 5-4 loss to Nanaimo, backup Cole Huggins has started the last two games. Langley has only eight games left, six of which are at home, and won’t have to leave the Lower Mainland the rest of the season.

VICTORIA GRIZZLIES

In an effort to shore up the blueline, the Grizzlies traded forward Dylan Nowakowski to the Prince George Spruce Kings for 20-year-old defenceman Justin Fillion and, through seven games, the new rearguard has three points and six penalty minutes. But seeing how he had 41 points in 44 games with Prince George, you can expect him to provide offence once he gets comfortable with the Grizzlies. Five of Victoria’s next six games are on the road before they close out the year with a five-game home stand.

NANAIMO CLIPPERS

The Clippers made just one small move at the deadline as they traded 17-year-old defenceman Kiefer McNaughton to Quesnel for futures. The blueliner had played in 18 games this year for Nanaimo and had four points. And since the deadline, Nanaimo is 4-1-0-1. And it’s a good thing, seeing that if they Clippers are to pass Victoria for fourth place, which would give them home-ice advantage for the opening round of the playoffs, they’ll have to be road warriors. Seven of their last 10 games are away from Nanaimo.

ALBERNI VALLEY BULLDOGS

The Bulldogs made the biggest noise amongst Coastal Conference teams at the deadline, at least in terms of acquisitions. The Bulldogs picked up defenceman Mike Puddifant and forward Dylan Nowakowski from Prince George for blueliner Ryan Renz. And since arriving, Nowakowski who only had seven points in 15 games with Victoria this year, already has five points in his first six games with Alberni Valley. Puddifant, who has now played on five different teams in the last two years, has three points in six games and 10 PIM. The Bulldogs final 11 games sees them playing six at home and five on the road, including a three-game trip to the Interior.

COQUITLAM EXPRESS

The Express were quiet at the deadline this year and since then have gone 3-2-0-0. With Cowichan Valley right behind them and Alberni Valley not far in front of them, the Express could easily be sixth, seventh or eighth by seasons end. But the stretch run won’t be easy as they play Surrey and Langley three times each and Powell River twice.

COWICHAN VALLEY CAPITALS

The Capitals made biggest deal of the deadline when they traded leading scorer Mike Hammond to Salmon Arm for forward Matt Cassidy and futures. Trading Hammond, who had 66 points in 40 games, is a deal for the future, but doesn’t crush them in the present. Cassidy is no slouch offensively and he’s shown that by picking up two goals and six assists in his first six games with the Capitals. Cowichan Valley’s next five games are on the road so if they can make it through that, they’ll still have a chance at the playoffs.