Whaler defenceman Jake Kearns battles with Wolf Pack forward Corson Penman. Kearns is part of a revamped White Rock defensive corps. | Photo: David Stevens Photography.
Pod’s Chris Fortems leads league in points
CENTENNIAL ARENA – The post can be a goalie’s best friend. Unfortunately for White Rock netminder Ty Angus, his best friend let him down Nov. 7.
A slapshot from North Vancouver Wolf Pack defenceman Jonathan Soares clanked off the post and in with 1:28 left on the clock. The Wolf Pack rallied to defeat the Whalers 3-2.
Soares was recently named one of the Pacific Junior Hockey League’s (PJHL) players of the week for six assists in his first two games with the Pack.
After North Vancouver’s poor start to the season, the Pack are now only two points behind the Whalers in the Tom Shaw Conference. As of press time Nov. 10, White Rock had a record of eight wins, six losses and a lone overtime loss for 17 points – or fourth overall out of six teams.
Back to the action
In the second period Nov. 7, Whaler captain Chris Fortems snapped the puck home from the slot past Wolf Pack goalie Charlie Tritt to tie the game at 1-1. Fortems, with 35 points, still leads the PJHL scoring race at press time.
A minute-and-a-half after Fortems lit the lamp, teammate Kaz Yamazaki scored with the man advantage. The newest Whaler, defenceman Dylan Travis, picked up his first assist and point with the team.
American joins the ranks
White Rock head coach Jason Rogers pointed out that Travis had moved from California to Washington state – part of a Pod tradition of signing players from south of the border that stretches back to the original Whalers franchise in the 1980s.
The Whalers also welcomed back an integral part of last season’s run to the play-offs: Jacob Dorohoy, who notched 12 points in the 2021-2022 post-season before being injured.
“He gives us such a big body presence,” Rogers said of the six feet, one inch tall Dorohoy.
In the 3-2 loss, Whaler goalie Ty Angus faced 43 shots and weathered a 100-second Wolf Pack 5-on-3 man advantage. | Photo: Alistair Burn, White Rock Whalers.
Angus (almost) to the rescue
After a two-week wait, Whaler goalie Ty Angus faced plenty of vulcanized rubber – a 5-on-3 Wolf Pack powerplay for 100 seconds and a total of 43 shots – 20 more than his Wolf Pack counterpart Tritt.
Rogers thought Angus played well and did what “he was supposed to do” in giving the Whalers a chance at victory.
Angus has a record of three wins and four losses with a goals-against-average of 3.38.
With time running out, Yamazaki streaked in alone on a breakaway, but his snapshot was turned aside by Tritt’s right pad.
Rogers commented that Yamazaki had a “very, very high skill set” and his commitment to defensive play was a positive.
Trumpeter James Caswell, the Fine Arts coordinator at White Rock Christian Academy, performs during the pre-game Remembrance ceremony. | Photo: David Stevens Photography.
Remembrance ceremony
The Nov. 7 game was the last for the Whalers before Remembrance Day. Before the opening face-off, James Caswell, a trumpeter and the Fine Arts coordinator from White Rock Christian Academy, performed The Last Post and the Rouse. We thank him for volunteering.
POST GAME AUDIO with Coach Rogers
Whaler Kaz Yamazaki is "doing the things away from the puck that'll going to make him a better hockey player," Coach Rogers said.
Live Audio with Coach Rogers
New Whaler goalie Evan Paul thought his style of play is similar to NHL netminders Marc-Andre Fleury or Jonathan Quick.
Live Audio with Evan Paul
THREE STARS:
First: White Rock # 62 Cole Svendson
Second: Delta # 14 Alec Scouras
Third: Delta # 18 Dalton MacGillivray
NEXT AWAY GAME
Whalers travel to Abottsford to face the Pilots on Remembrance Day. Friday, Nov. 11 | 7:30 p.m.
MSA Arena
NEXT HOME GAME
Whalers host the Chilliwack Jets.
Saturday, Nov. 12 | 7:30 p.m.
Centennial Arena
