The Delta Ice Hawks won't mind at all if history happens to repeat itself.
The last time the Ice Hawks won the Pacific International Junior Hockey League championship was in 2006. That year they defeated the Abbotsford Pilots in the finals. Two weeks later, the teams clashed again in the Cyclone Taylor Cup gold medal game with Delta again coming out on top, earning the right to represent B.C. at the Western Canadian Championships.
This year's squad is in the very same position.
The Hawks and Pilots opened the bestof-seven PIJHL championship series last night in Ladner and game two is slated for tonight at MSA Arena in Abbotsford. The teams will then play three games in as many nights on Saturday back at the Ladner Leisure Centre. Game time is 7: 30 p.m.
Both squads are guaranteed to be part of the Cyclone Taylor Cup, with Abbotsford hosting the four-team tournament - April 12-15.
Ice Hawks head coach Dave McLellan is pleased his team gets a free pass to the provincials, given the two demanding series it went through against North Delta and Richmond to reach the final.
"Obviously this was the scenario we were hoping for," he said. "At the same time it means that much more going in as the PIJHL champions and that's what we plan to do."
Game four of the PIJHL finals goes Monday at MSA Arena and, if needed, game five is on Tuesday in Ladner.
