Langley Trappers clinched a 4-3 win over the Grandview Steelers in the junior hockey team’s first franchise game ever.
Sadly, they couldn’t keep up that momentum in game two. On Wednesday, they fell on home ice to the North Vancouver Wolf Pack, 6-2.
Another long and hot summer has passed and its time once again for hockey here in the Lower Mainland.
The Pacific Junior Hockey League’s newest team, the Langley Trappers, are ready to play after an extended off-season preparing for this inaugural play, said Gideon Hill, the Trappers’ play-by-play announcer.
This will be a “young and fresh team” compared to the others in the league, Hill said. “The Trappers youth will be something to keep an eye on.”
Trappers had a solid pre-season, playing some Pacific Junior Hockey League competition – including a prelude to the home opener against the Steelers, one of the older teams in the league celebrating their clubs 50th anniversary this year.
The Trappers also had quite a few intersquad games during their main camp tryouts, and a scrimmage against the Langley Rivermen.
Then all the preparation the Trappers coaching staff – headed by Burt Henderson and Brad Bakken – showed itself on Sept. 6, with the inaugural home opening game.
The opposition was the Steelers, who Hill descdribed as a very competitive team last season.
“The Trappers faced the Steelers in exhibition, which turned into an exciting back-and-forth match ending in a double overtime 3-2 win for the Trappers,” Hill recounted.
Then, during that home opener, they defeated the Steelers again, 4-3.
“For all you looking to come out and support the Trappers, home games are always Wednesday nights. In fact every Wednesday in September and October the Trappers have a home game,” at the George Preston Recreation Centre’s Lodge, Hill said.
“It will be a very interesting season for the PJHL’s newest team, but it will be fun and exciting one either way.”