The Squamish Wolf Pack are officially contenders, despite their 2-5-0-2 record so far this season.
After picking up a key division win against the Grandview Steelers on Sept. 26 the Wolf Pack faced off against the still undefeated Aldergrove Kodiaks in Squamish last Saturday - the most dominant team in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League in the month of September with nine wins and no losses.
The Wolf Pack battled the Kodiaks to a 6-6 tie in regular play, then lost in the overtime shootout. It was Wolf Pack's second OT loss this season, with the other loss coming against the Richmond Sockeyes - the 2009 national champions and the team with the second-best record in the PIJHL. In other words, the Wolf Pack have earned two points against the top teams in the league so far this year and have shown that they can hold their own against anybody.
The Wolf Pack were first on the board Saturday but the Kodiaks answered back twice to take a 2-1 lead heading into the second period. Squamish took over in the second period with three unanswered goals from three different lines to lead the game 4-2.
The third period featured six goals with the Kodiaks adding two in the first six minutes to tie the game 4-4. From then on it was tit-for-tat, with Squamish going ahead 5-4 and then 6-5 until the Kodiaks tied the game once again with one minute remaining. The Pack were then blanked in the shootout to give Aldergrove the win.
Otherwise it was an even match with both teams managing 42 shots on net during regulation. The Wolf Pack had four penalties to the Kodiaks' one, but did not allow a powerplay goal.
The Wolf Pack and Kodiaks played again on Wednesday night in Aldergrove. The Wolf Pack's next home game is this Saturday, Oct. 10 at Brennan Park, starting 7:15 p.m. They are hosting the Pitt Meadows Flames.
Month of Pain addition
In our coverage of the Month of Pain events we overlooked one athlete who completed an amazing five out of six events. Ashley McMillian finished the West Side Wheel Up in 2:17:22, raced the 10 km Terry Fox, finished the full Cheakamus Challenge in 4:38, placed third in his category in the XTC Squamish off-road duathlon, and was second in the 10 km Whistler Spirit Run in the 20 to 39 age group. We regret the omission.
Riders go Full Boar
Riding on a mix of ice and dust, there was as a solid turnout for the annual Full Board Challenge outside of Kamloops last weekend. There were a few different events, but Whistler athletes focused on the Enduro Downhill event.
Tom Hey managed a fourth place finish, while Mike Jones finished in 11 th position. Todd Hellinga got a flat before the race that couldn't be fixed in time for the start, and had to race on a friend's bike that he rode into a tree on an icy part of the course on Greenstone Mountain. He finished 10 th out of 11 riders in his category.
Lumpy's Epic on Oct. 17
The 12 th annual Lumpy's Epic trail run is set for Saturday, Oct. 17, starting and finishing at One Mile Lake in Pemberton. The 10 km trail follows the Lumpy's Epic mountain bike trail, and features technical singletrack and some incredible views of Mt. Currie and the Green River.
Registration gets underway at 9 a.m. and the race starts at 10 a.m. It costs $15 to take part, with all proceeds going to community groups in Pemberton.
As usual the post-race party is pot-luck, so bring something you can share.
For more information or to volunteer contact 604-894-6618. Runners and walkers are welcome.
2002 hockey win is Best Olympic Moment
Canada's first gold medal in men's hockey in 50 years was picked as the No.1 Canadian Olympic Winter Games Moment of all Time, according to a national contest held by the Royal Canadian Mint.
The 5-2 win over the U.S. team at Salt Lake City was followed in voting by the Canadian women's 2002 hockey victory, also over the U.S. and Cindy Klassen's five medals in long track speed skating in the 2006 Games.
As the winners, all three moments have been commemorated by the Mint in a series of 25-cent coins. Roughly 66 million coins will be produced, 22 million of each moment, and are available at RBC and Petro Canada locations.
