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Abbotsford Pilots fall on home ice

Junior hockey team loses to North Van on Friday
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Pilots forward Philip Gauthier clears the puck from in front of the net during PJHL regular season action against the North Van Wolf Pack on Friday.

A rough second period led to the first home loss of the 2016-17 season for the Abbotsford Pilots.

The North Vancouver Wolf Pack scored three unanswered goals in the middle frame to earn the 5-2 win in Pacific Junior Hockey League action on Friday.

Abbotsford's Kolby Steen scored the lone goal of the first period, but the second period saw the Pilots fall behind 3-1.

Mateo Toledo scored his league-leading ninth goal to open the third period, but North Vancouver added two more to pick up the win.

The Pilots outshot the Wolf Pack 32-30, but couldn't convert on the power play, going zero for four. Abbotsford goalie Jacob Crawford made 25 saves in the loss.

Abbotsford was also in action on Thursday, notching a 6-5 win over the Richmond Sockeyes on the road.

The back and forth game saw Toledo score both the tying and game-winning goal in the third period to give the Pilots the win.

Abbotsford also got goals from Alexander Methorst, Steen, Jackson Waniek and Dryden Michaud. Steen added three assists, and Brady Morton added a pair of helpers.

The penalty-filled game saw both clubs score a pair of power play goals. Crawford stopped 25 shots in the win.

The pair of games leaves the Pilots with a record of four wins and two losses, and they sit in third place in the Harold Brittain conference.

The Pilots next host the Aldergrove Kodiaks on Friday at 7:30 p.m., and then travel across the bridge to take on arch-rival the Mission City Outlaws on Saturday.

The team also has two upcoming events in October, as they celebrate Hockey Day in Abbotsford on Oct. 8. Fans are invited to come to the parking lot at Envision Credit Union on Sumas Way to play road hockey with the Pilots, win prizes, ticket giveaways and more.

On Oct. 15 and 16 is the Pilots 17th annual Fishing Derby. The Gary Graber/Richard Newton Memorial Fishing Derby invites anglers to camp and fish on the Vedder River, with prizes and other activities.

For more details on both events, visit abbotsfordpilots.com.



Ben Lypka

About the Author: Ben Lypka

I joined the Abbotsford News in 2015.
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