The 18U AAA Coquitlam HC used a strong start and timely third-period scoring to secure a 4-2 win over the visiting Okanagan HC in a penalty-filled Junior Prospects Hockey League matchup. Despite being outshot 33-25, Coquitlam capitalized on their early chances, building a lead that Okanagan could never quite overcome in a game that featured 14 minor penalties.
Coquitlam's Markus Halliwell was the early story, striking twice in the first period to give the home side a commanding lead. He opened the scoring on the power play at 15:17, finishing a setup from Christiano D’Addabbo and Matteo Kokkas. Just over eight minutes later, Halliwell struck again at even strength, this time assisted by Danwoo Kim, to put Coquitlam up 2-0 heading into the first intermission. The period was marred by four minors, including an Illegal Check to the Head call against Okanagan's Jayden Campbell. Okanagan carried the play for much of the middle frame, outshooting Coquitlam 8-6, but they couldn't solve the Coquitlam netminder, who stood tall despite the lack of tracked goalie stats.
The third period was a wild affair, with five goals and seven penalties. Okanagan finally broke through on the power play at 17:31, as Hendrix Whittle converted a feed from Linden Rogers to cut the deficit to 2-1 and ignite the visitors' hopes. However, Coquitlam responded with authority. Just over eight minutes later, with Okanagan's Samuel Stancati in the box for slashing, Jaehun Kim restored the two-goal cushion with a crucial power-play goal, assisted by Jacob Keller. The goal proved to be the game-winner. Christiano D’Addabbo then gave Coquitlam a commanding 4-1 lead at 4:31, scoring at even strength off another helper from Keller. Okanagan's Linden Rogers added a late power-play marker with 30 seconds remaining, assisted by William McGrath and Caleb Lankoff, but it was too little, too late. The final frame saw tempers flare, with Coquitlam's Linden Hart taking two minors and Okanagan's Bradley Keightley also sent off, but Coquitlam's special teams and opportunistic scoring sealed the hard-fought victory.
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