WHITE ROCK, BC.
After sweeping the eight seeded Aldergrove Ironmen four games to none in their first round playoff series, the number one seeded White Rock Whalers got over a week off to prepare for their second round playoff matchup. The fifth seeded Cloverdale Hockey Club defeated the fourth seeded Abbotsford Pilots in six games (four games to two) to set up a rivalry matchup in one of the Harold Brittain conference Stonehouse Cup Semi-Finals.
Cloverdale Hockey at White Rock Whalers, Mar. 4
Both teams agreed to alternate home games for this playoff series, with game one taking place in White Rock at Centennial Arena. Game one of this round two matchup had a little bit of almost everything, with the Whalers battling their way back to an epic and thrilling 8-7 overtime win.
Sean Robins opened the scoring for the Whalers just 36 seconds into the game. After the Whalers took a 2-0 lead in the 1st, Cloverdale responded with three straight goals. Each team scored once more before the 1st period ended, with the Whalers trailing 4-3. The second period saw each team score twice, with Cloverdale forwards Carter Nailen and Jeevin Bal completing hat tricks.
Now down 6-5 going into the 3rd period, the Whalers scored on a powerplay with around 12 minutes remaining to tie the game at 6. Cloverdale forward Jeevin Bal scored his 4th goal of the game with 10 minutes remaining to once again give Cloverdale the lead. The Whalers didn’t give up, and with the goalie on the bench for the extra attacker, Whalers’ captain Wendell Adriano tied the game with just 9 seconds remaining.
Game one was really anyone’s game, and it needed overtime. With one minute remaining in the first overtime (10 minutes), Whalers forward Maxwell Kovach made a series of nice moves before firing a wrist shot top corner to win game one for the Whalers in thrilling fashion. Final shots on goal were 34-31 for Cloverdale, who finished 2/7 on the powerplay, while the Whalers went 3/6 with the man advantage. Whalers’ goaltender Joshua Dubreuil earned the victory after replacing Landon Garbitt at the start of the 2nd period.
White Rock Whalers at Cloverdale Hockey Club, Mar. 5
Both teams had less than 24 hours to reset after game one, as game two of this series took place in Cloverdale on Thursday night. Game two saw Cloverdale jump out to an early lead, before the Whalers chipped away throughout the first 30 minutes, before eventually scoring four unanswered goals to win 5-2 on the road.
Max Lyons, a former Whaler, opened the scoring for Cloverdale just 67 seconds into the game. The Whalers outshot Cloverdale 22-6 in the 1st, and tied the game with a powerplay goal with 1:33 left in the opening frame. The 2nd period saw Cloverdale re-gain their lead on a powerplay goal, before Whalers’ forward Parker Wells tied the game at two.
After the second period, just like game one, it looked like anyone’s game, but that changed after a strong 3rd period from the Whalers in game two. Whalers’ defenceman Tanner Halley gave the Whalers the lead with 13 minutes remaining. Nico McDonald added to the Whalers lead with an important insurance goal with just over four minutes left in the game. Jacob Roche wrapped up the win for the Whalers with an empty net goal.
The Whalers outshot the Cloverdale Hockey Club 45-23 in game two, while going 2/6 on the powerplay. Cloverdale went just 1/5 on the man advantage, and the Whalers left Cloverdale Arena on Thursday night with a 2-0 series lead.
Up Next for the Pod
Game three of this round two series goes on Saturday night (Mar. 7) at Centennial Arena, with puck drop set for 7:45 pm. Game four of this series will be on Monday (Mar. 9) at Cloverdale Arena, with puck drop for this game also set for 7:45 pm.
If you can’t make it to watch the action in person, tune in at FloHockeyTV.com to keep up the Whalers throughout their 2026 playoff run.
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