Cloverdale HC captures first ever playoff series win<\/p>\n
Published 9:00 pm Monday, March 2, 2026<\/p>\n
Chalk one up for the underdog.<\/p>\n
Cloverdale HC battled their way to 4-2 series win in their first-ever playoff series.<\/p>\n
The expansion club finished fifth in the Harold Brittain Conference standings and played the fourth-place Abbotsford Pilots in the first round of the PJHL playoffs.<\/p>\n
Captain Zachary Johns said the team was elated to get the series victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last game\u2019s always the hardest to win, the fourth game,\u201d Johns noted. \u201cI experienced that a lot with White Rock over the past years, too. Just mentally, and the other team kind of wants it a lot more because their season\u2019s on the line. But I\u2019m just really glad we got it done in six.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johns played four seasons with the White Rock Whalers, deciding to come home to Cloverdale to play for his expansion hometown club and compete in his last season in junior as a 20-year-old. Johns has played more than 200 regular season games and more than 40 postseason games in 5 years in the PJ.<\/p>\n
He said facing the Whalers will be a challenge, but he and the squad are up for it. He said they\u2019ree quite happy to wear the underdog label for the series.<\/p>\n
Johns added it\u2019s going to be a little weird for him to battle against the Whalers having played 208 games in a Whalers jersey.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re excited for it. I\u2019m excited for it. It\u2019s going to be a challenge for sure, but we feel pretty confident going into this.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s either played with or knows basically everyone on the White Rock squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a little strange, but it\u2019ll be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johns noted the franchise\u2019s first-ever playoff series win means a lot to Cloverdale HC.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt established us as a respectable team in this league,\u201d he explained. \u201cI don\u2019t think there are many teams\u2014right off their first season\u2014that are going to make it past the first round of playoffs and beat a team like Abbotsford. I think it kind of shows what Cloverdale is made of.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cloverdale dropped the opening tilt of the seven-game series with the Pilots 7-3, but bounced back to win three consecutive games (8-3, 4-3, 5-2), before narrowly losing Game 5 by a 3-2 count. The club hosted Abby at The Barn Feb. 26 and closed out the series with a 4-2 win\u2014with Johns adding an empty-netter.<\/p>\n
In Game 6, Cloverdale was up 2-1 going into the 3rd\u2014on goals from Keenan Connor (1st period) and Mattteo Galasso (2nd period). Max Lyons added an insurance marker 1:47 into the final frame, with Calvin Bright and Johns picking up helpers. Abbotsford clawed back to within one about 10 minutes later after a power play goal. The game remained close for the final seven minutes until Johns sealed the game with 18 seconds left.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe empty-netter felt good,\u201d Johns added. \u201cI got robbed on a penalty shot earlier in the game. I had a lot of shots on net and I really wanted a goal. So it felt good even though there wasn\u2019t a goalie in the net.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cloverdale was already on the power play early in the second when Johns was tripped on a breakaway.<\/p>\n
Cloverdale HC\u2019s first ever playoff series win comes 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\u2014good for 50 points and a fifth-place finish (3 points behind the Pilots).<\/p>\n
The puck will drop for Game 1 of the Brittain Conference semi-finals March 4, 8 p.m., at Centennial Arena in White Rock. The Whalers dumped the Aldergrove Ironmen 4-0 in their first round series by a combined score of 37-3.<\/p>\n
Cloverdale HC will host the Whalers in Game 2 March 5 at The Barn as the series follows a home-and-home format for the entire series. Puck drops at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
Johns invited anyone who wants to see some fast-paced, entertaining hockey to get down to The Barn to cheer the club on March 5.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe playoff games, so far, have been pretty electric,\u201d he added. \u201cOur last game had an amazing turnout. They\u2019re fun games, lots of goals, and lots of excitement.\u201d<\/p>\n