Zachary Johns (#14) drives the net on Abbotsford goalie Lucas Szulc in Cloverdale HC’s 5-2 win over the Abbotsford Pilots Feb.22 at The Barn. The win gave Cloverdale a 3-1 lead in the series. On Feb. 24, Cloverdale dropped Game 5 in Abbotsford 3-2 to the Pilots. With the series now 3-2, Game 6 goes at The Barn Feb. 26. Johns has 8 points so far in the series, potting 3 goals and adding 5 helpers. | Photo: Jason Sveinson/Cloverdale Reporter
Cloverdale HC have found themselves in a battle in the first round of the PJHL playoffs.
Finishing fifth in the Harold Brittain Conference standings, they are facing off against the fourth-place Abbotsford Pilots in round one. After five games, Cloverdale is up on the Pilots 3-2 with Game 6 set to go Feb. 26 at The Barn.
Cloverdale dropped the opening game of the series 7-3, but bounced back to win three consecutive games (8-3, 4-3, 5-2), before narrowly losing Game 5 on Feb. 24 by a 3-2 count. The team’s first ever playoffs come after a respectable inaugural season. Cloverdale managed to go .568 over 44 games as an expansion club, posting 28 wins and 18 losses with 2 shootout losses—good for 50 points and a fifth-place finish (3 points behind the Pilots). The puck will drop for Game 6 on Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in Cloverdale Arena (The Barn) on the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. If needed, Game 7 will be held at MSA Arena in Abbotsford on Feb. 27 with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
To follow the team, visit pjhl.net.
