The Northern Capitals hit the road to Langley on Thursday afternoon, with plans to return as the U18 FAAA B.C. Elite Hockey League champions.
The Capitals are two games away from the title, after sweeping the Vancouver Island Seals in their best-of-three semifinal series at Kin 2 arena last weekend. The only thing standing in their way is the league’s top-ranked team, the Fraser Valley Rush.
Capitals general manager Trevor Sprague said the team is healthy and ready face the Rush on their home ice on Friday evening.
“This biggest thing is having a good breakfast tomorrow, and a good road trip,” Sprague said. “There is not a lot of playoff experience (on this team). Only two of the girls have been in the playoffs, for the rest this is the first time.”
The Rush are also coming off back-to-back wins in their semifinal series against the Thompson Okanagan Lakers last weekend.
During the regular season the Capitals posted a 22-7-0-3 record, second only the Rush’s 28-3-1-0 season.
In eight regular season games between the teams, the Rush won six times – including twice in overtime – and the Capitals won twice.
The winners of this weekend’s showdown won’t just be B.C. champions, they’ll also earn the right to take on Alberta in the Pacific regional qualifier for the 2022 Esso Cup tournament happening next month in Prince Albert, Sask.
The puck drops at 5:45 p.m on Friday at Canlan Ice Sports Langley Twin Rinks. Game 2 is Saturday at 11:15 a.m. in Langley, with Game 3 scheduled for 9 a.m. on Sunday if needed.
