The Fraser Valley Thunderbirds’ road to the Telus Cup officially begins on Saturday, when the British Columbia Major Midget League playoffs open.
The Thunderbirds finished the regular season third overall in the league, compiling a record of 25 wins, 13 losses, one tie and one overtime loss, and the club will match up against the Greater Vancouver Canadians in the quarterfinals.
The team has plenty of Abbotsford flavour, with local products Matthew Konrad, Jake Mulder, Justin Plett, Andrew Sorensen, Dylan Stoltz, Nolan Wall, Will Dow-Kenny and Gabriel Beingessner all suiting up this year.
The team is made up of players from Langley, Chilliwack, Mission, Surrey, Hope and Maple Ridge.
Plett was the second highest scorer on the Thunderbirds this season, picking up 58 points in 38 games.
His totals were good for seventh overall in the league in points, and his 36 goals were tied for the most in the BCMML.
Dow-Kenny’s 30 points was good for sixth overall among all defenders in scoring.
Both Plett and Dow-Kenny saw some action in the British Columbia Hockey League this year, with Plett playing five games with the Langley Rivermen and Dow-Kenny suiting up twice for the Vernon Vipers.
The Thunderbirds and the Canadians met four times during the regular season, with each time winning two. The clubs last met on Dec. 16, with Fraser Valley earning a 5-4 win.
The best-of-three series kicks off on Saturday at 2 p.m., with game two scheduled for Sunday at 7 p.m.
Game three, if necessary, occurs on Monday at 7 p.m. All games take place at the George Preston Recreation Centre in Langley.
For more on the team, visit fvthunderbirds.com.