You can’t get a better deal than free, and that’s what the Langley Knights are offering fans who come to the Knights’ Pacific Junior Hockey League home opener on Thursday, Sept. 10, at the George Preston Recreation Centre.
The junior B Knights are taking on the North Van Wolf Pack, with a game time of 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.
And while they won’t be paying to watch the game, fans are being asked to help out a worthy charity, with part proceeds from the 50/50 draw going to Sophie’s Place, a child advocacy centre focused on providing specialized services for physically, mentally, or sexually abused children up to the age of 18.
The centre is a collaboration between the Surrey RCMP, Ministry of Children and Family Development, City of Surrey, Ministry of Justice Victim Services and Crime Prevention, and The Centre for Child Development.
As well, Langley Knights hats will be available for purchase with proceeds earmarked for Sophie’s Place.
A mini game featuring young hockey players is featured during the first intermission, with figure skating spotlighted between the second and third periods.
On the ice, the Knights have a number of players returning to their fold led by their top goal-scorer Carson Gill (35 goals in 22 games), along with forwards Dylan McCann (23 goals, 21 assists last season), Jayden Gill, head coach John Craighead’s son Tristan (17 goals last season), Jayden Gill, as well as goaltender Cole Forbes.
One of the newcomers is Surrey's Jackson Waniek.
Last season, the Knights’ first since moving to Brookswood from North Delta, saw Langley finish second in the PJHL's Harold Brittain Conference with a 23-19-1-1 record.
The Knights then lost four games to two to the Mission City Outlaws in their best-of-seven, Harold Brittain Conference semifinal series.
Coach Craighead said last season was “fantastic.”
“To finish second in our conference is huge,” he said.