The Coquitlam Chiefs will play for a Midget A1 provincial championship later this month.
The Chiefs earned its way to the provincial tournament that will be played in Nanaimo, March 16 to 20, by winning two of its three games in the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association’s final four playoff tournament. Its only setback was a 5-2 loss to Ridge Meadows after a 6-1 win over North Vancouver and a 5-1 victory over Langley. Ridge Meadows also qualified for provincials after it went undefeated in the season-ending playdown.
Coquitlam finished the regular season atop the league standings with 14 wins, four losses and four ties.
Coach Mike Rockwood said he knew his charges had the right stuff after it won a U18 tournament in Kennewick, Wash.
“I knew when we won that tournament that winning was part of this team’s DNA,” he said. “Our boys were committed to doing the small things necessary for the team to win.”
Those small things included a goaltending duo of Xavier Russett-Morin and Austin Macrae that allowed the fewest goals in league play and an offence that scored 87 times in 22 games, also tops in the league.
