Aldo Bruno has what Jim Benning can only hope for — a playoff date.
The Grandview Steelers launch the Pacific Junior B Hockey League playoffs tonight (Wednesday), 7:15 p.m. at the Burnaby Winter Club, in a best-of-seven against the Richmond Sockeyes.
Considering their results this year, hockey fans should expect long nights and a long series.
“It’s going to be a tough round. Playing them was hard all year with five of six games going to overtime,” said Bruno, who wears both the head coach and general manager hats for Burnaby-based Grandview.
One of those results was played out Sunday, when the Steelers couldn’t make a 4-3 lead stick, falling 5-4 in overtime at home.
That result could be telling, or it could be just part of a wiped-clean slate -- considering Grandview dressed five affiliated players to rest a handful of regulars.
The Steelers had already locked up second place in the Tom Shaw Conference at 23-16-2-3, while the Sockeyes needed a win Sunday to secure third place, two points better than Delta.
Richmond outshot Grandview 41-27 on the night, including 6-0 in extra time, which ended when Samuel Atkins buried the puck past Spencer Kozlowski 3:40 into the extra frame.
Two days earlier, the Steelers fell 5-4 to Ridge Meadows in another back-and-forth contest.
All these close games highlight how tight the league is this season, but the playoffs will provide the one chance to really put some distance between your opposition, said Bruno.
“For us, the goal was to finish top-three and we did that, getting home-ice advantage (in the first round),” he said. “I doubt this is a series that will finish quickly.”
A key is getting a strong performance from Cole MacInnes, the team’s No. 1 netminder who Bruno said will carry the ball.
“He’s a 20-year-old and we’ll give him the opportunity to run with it. Cole has played real well this season, but we need everyone playing well.”
The defence, led by 20-year-old Lucas Mercer and Kristofor Zlomislic, will attempt to contain the Sockeyes’ balanced attack, while Grandview hopes to use its edge in specialty teams to control the series.
“We’ve got to force them into taking penalties, but they are a very disciplined team,” said Bruno.
As for the Steelers offence, Bruno hopes a few of the top snipers re-emerge out of their shells after prolonged slumps over the past two months.
Adam Rota, who scored his 16th goal of the season on Sunday, had gone five weeks between goals. Jake Holland, meanwhile, ended up tied with Timothy Chow as the team’s top point-getter despite contributing just a goal and six assists since coming over from Ridge Meadows six weeks ago.
“Adam’s dealt with some injuries and a suspension but I think he’ll be fine for us,” noted the coach. “Jake finally began to feel comfortable. I think we’ve found a good line for him.”
The series continues Thursday, 7 p.m. at the Richmond Arena, where it returns for Game 3 on Saturday. Game 4 goes Sunday, 4 p.m. at the Burnaby Winter Club.
Games 5, 6 and 7 will be played Feb. 24 in Burnaby, Feb. 25 in Richmond and Feb. 28 in Burnaby, if necessary.
