U17 Canadians Win Two of Three At Home

The U17 AAA Greater Vancouver Canadians won two of three home games over the weekend (Jan. 16-18), beating the third‑place Vancouver NE Chiefs on Friday before splitting a two‑game set against the Vancouver Island Royals on Saturday and Sunday. 

All three games were held at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

On Friday night, Robert Filc scored twice and the Canadians tallied three times in the second period en route to a 6-3 win over the Chiefs, who would have moved into a three‑way tie for first with a victory. Instead, GVC spoiled those plans with two goals from Filc and one apiece from Brian Woolfenden, Maxwell Clemens, Domenic Piperni, and Leander Han. In goal, Wilfred Hogan continued his brilliant season, making 37 saves on the night, according to team tracking.

On Saturday night, the Royals came into town and stunned the Canadians 4-3 in overtime. GVC rallied from three separate one‑goal deficits to tie the game late, on goals by Koen Lee, Robert Filc (his third in two games), and Leander Han—who scored with 2:42 remaining while the Canadians skated 6‑on‑5. GVC had a chance to win early in OT on the power play, but the Royals killed off the penalty and then notched the game‑winner with 2:51 left in the extra period on their own man advantage. Joshua Read made 27 saves in goal for the Canadians. 

Then on Sunday morning, Wilfred Hogan continued his outstanding play, making more than 40 saves by the team’s tally, while Sam Johnston scored twice as the Canadians defeated the Royals 4-2. Backup goalie Kaz Patrick-Russell saw action in the final minute of the contest and made two saves. Keenan Mak and Brian Woolfenden also scored for GVC, whose two victories on the weekend improved the team’s record to 10-14-4-0 through 28 games. 

The Canadians, currently eighth in the nine-team U17 division, now sit just one point out of seventh place.

Clemens’s goal on Friday gave him 10 on the season, keeping him second on the team in that category behind only Woolfenden (13). With his three‑goal weekend, Filc now has eight on the season, third on the club.

Next up, the U17 Canadians face the U17 Chiefs on Jan. 24 at Scotia Barn. Puck drop is 3:30 p.m.