Spencer Traher's road to becoming the likely scoring champion of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League is certainly an improbable one.
The 20-year-old from Ladner is enjoying an outstanding final season of junior hockey as a key member of the Delta Ice Hawks. Traher tops the league in scoring with 59 points, including 23 goals, in just 32 games. That's enough for a seven point cushion on Richmond's Jeremy Hamaguchi with just a handful of games remaining. He would become the second straight South Delta Minor Hockey alumni to win the title, after Liam Harding took the honours last season.
However, four years ago, the speedy centre was better known for his ability in a shutdown defensive role.
His biggest assignment came in the 2009 B.C. Major Midget Hockey League championship series when he lined-up against current Edmonton Oilers star Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as a member of the Greater Vancouver Canadians.
His team would go on to lose 2-1 in a third and deciding overtime game heartbreaker to the Vancouver Northwest Giants.
"My role was to be a third line centre and match up against the other teams top forwards," recalled Traher. "That meant a lot of ice time in the playoffs. I did enjoy playing the power play but I didn't get the chance to be one of the top guys."
Traher cracked the Ice Hawks line-up the following season and, ironically, his roster spot was secured when he showed he could play on the blueline when the team was shorthanded for an exhibition game.
Ice Hawks general manager Peter Zerbinos had watched him grow up through minor hockey and was confident his skill set was suited to a more offensive role.
Traher began the 2009-10 campaign playing along side fellow rookie Cody Smith. After a slow start, the two found their comfort level and would be key figures in helping the Ice Hawks reach the playoff finals before falling to Aldergrove.
Today, the two remain linemates and are considered the most dynamic offensive duo in the league. Smith is sixth scoring with 42 points.
"He's a good player that is really quick and we have just had a lot of success playing together," said Traher. "My job at first was putting the puck into open ice for him to skate onto and score goals. Now, I've become more of a scorer as well."
The pair want nothing more than to conclude their Ice Hawk careers by winning a championship. Last year, Delta dropped a seven game conference final series to the Richmond Sockeyes and the two rivals seem destined to meet again.
"It's impossible not thinking about (winning) a scoring title but I will gladly finish fifth or sixth if it means we win a championship, continued Traher. "We have come close and this is an experienced group with a lot of 1991s and that should help come playoff time.
"There are a lot of guys here that deserve a ring and I think we know that now January is here, it's time to get down to business."
Hockey beyond the PIJHL, could have Traher suiting up for the UBC Thunderbirds next season. He is a second-year student at the Point Grey campus and has been skating with the Thunderbirds when the opportunity presents itself.
He has already proven he is capable of playing any role the team made need him for.
Icing... Traher was selected to play in Monday's PIJHL all-star game but it was cancelled due to the extreme winter driving conditions in the Fraser Valley. As was the Abbotsford Pilots visit to Ladner on Tuesday to face the Ice Hawks. With another game also postponed, the league is now considering adding an additional week to the regular season for make-up games.
The Ice Hawks do return to action on Tuesday when the North Delta Devils visit at 7: 30 p.m.
