Through three games at the Keystone Cup, offence hasn’t been a problem for the Abbotsford Pilots.
The Pilots opened the Western Canadian junior B hockey championship in Saskatoon with a 7-4 victory over the Thunder Bay Northern Hawks on Thursday. On Friday, they played twice, and posted a pair of lopsided wins over the Arborg Ice Dawgs (10-0) and the Saskatoon Royals (6-1).
The Pilots currently sit atop the standings with a 3-0-0 record, and they can clinch a berth in Sunday’s final by winning one of their last two round robin games on Saturday. They play the Traveland RV Storm of Pilot Butte, Sask. in the morning, and the Alberta champ Whitecourt Wolverines in the evening.
On Friday morning, the Pilots simply crushed Arborg, the Manitoba representatives. Adam Rossi and Brady Lawlor staked Abbotsford to a 2-0 lead after the first period, and then the Pilots took over in the second, exploding for six goals. Three of those came off the stick of Chris Vinette, who scored a hat trick in the frame, while Kevin Lourens scored twice and Brad Parker added a single.
Parker, with his second of the game, and Eric Roberts rounded out the scoring in the third. Abby goalie Riley Parker made 24 saves for the shutout.
Justin Dorey was the offensive hero on Friday evening, as the Pilots made short work of the host Royals. He notched a hat trick, while Lourens, Riley Lamb and Colton Cowden also bulged the twine.
Through three games, Dorey leads the tournament in goals (five), assists (six) and points (11).
