Some of the region's best young hockey products will get a chance to showcase their skills in front of scouts from a variety of junior leagues and universities at the Port Moody Arena next month.
The Port Moody Panthers announced this week that they will host the Pacific Junior Hockey League prospects game when the event gets underway next month. Scouts from the Western Hockey League, the B.C. Hockey League and the Alberta Junior Hockey League are expected to be in attendance.
"We are extremely thrilled to be hosting this event in partnership with the Pacific Junior Hockey League," said Panthers general manager Frank Iantorno. "This year's event will have the top PJHL prospects competing in front of numerous scouts with the goal of making the step to the next level of hockey."
The rosters for the annual match are made up of the top first years players from the PJHL's 10 squads. Each team will have at least one player in the game and the lineup will be announced in January.
Of the 40 players that competed in last year's junior 'B' prospects game, half have made their way to higher levels, playing at least one game in junior 'A', major junior or the collegiate level this season.
The 2014 match also saw the Tom Shaw Conference, which is made up of the North Vancouver Wolf Pack, Richmond Sockeyes, Grandview Steelers, Delta Ice Hawks, and Port Moody Panthers, defeat the Harold Britain Conference, which consists of the Langley Knights, Aldergrove Kodiaks, Abbotsford Pilots, Mission City Outlaws, and Ridge Meadows Flames, 4-1.
In that game John Wesley, who is now the third leading scorer in the BCHL with the Surrey Eagles and has played a game with the WHL's Vancouver Giants, scored twice.
This year's prospects match will take place at the Port Moody Arena on January 26, 2015. For more information go to www.pjhl.net.
CATS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE
Meanwhile, the Port Moody Panthers continued to struggle this week.
The club lost Saturday's game against the Grandview Steelers 4-2 at the Port Moody Arena before dropping a Tuesday night game to 6-4 to the Delta Ice Hawks.
Derian White and Daniel Szpakowski scored for the Cats during the weekend loss, while Mark Fletcher, Daniel Obcena, Cameron Obcena and Cole Iantorno factored into the scoring during Tuesday's loss.
The club will try and regroup ahead of Saturday's match against Aldergrove at the Port Moody Arena. Puck drop is at 7:45 p.m.
@GMcKennaTC
