When the puck drops Friday, October 11 at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre for the home opener, the SFU Men’s Hockey Team will honour the North Vancouver Wolf of the PJHL.

This year’s SFU roster features three players from the Wolf Pack — Justin Lee, Mitch Ledyard, and Daniyal Nussipakynov.

Lee joins the Clan as a rookie fresh off winning the PJHL Championship in the 2018/19 season as captain of the Wolf Pack, also taking third at the Cyclone Taylor Cup.

“We had a really good team last year, deep top to bottom. Forwards, D, goalie, and we were able to go 12-2 in the playoffs, which is pretty impressive,” says Lee. ”Probably that championship last year [is my hockey highlight]. It was such a fun run.”

He played three seasons with the Wolf Pack, putting up 116 regular season points over that time and 58 points in his final season with the team. He was also a dependable playoff performer, putting up 20 points — tied for the team lead — in the Wolf Pack’s 14 game run to the PJHL Championship.

Lee was a part of the Wolf Pack’s second championship team. Former North Van linemate and current Clan teammate Ledyard was on the first.

While Lee was in his final year with the team, Ledyard was in the opposite situation — he was in his first year with the Wolf Pack as a 16-year old when they won the title in 2014/15.

“Great experience, great bunch of guys,” Ledyard says. “It was probably my favourite year of hockey to date.”

Ledyard would also go on to be captain of the Wolf Pack, playing four seasons with the team.

He is now in his second year playing with the Clan, putting up 15 points in 23 regular season games, and scoring two goals in the playoffs.

Nussipakynov, who is in his second season with SFU, played 10 games with the Wolf Pack in the 2016/17 season.

All have high praises for the organization.

“I spent my whole junior career there, four years, great organization,” says Ledyard. “It was the best experience.”

“It was a lot of fun, a lot of memories,” shares Lee.

He also praises the PJHL.

“Every game in the league’s competitive, so you’ve got to be on your best every single time,” Lee says.

SFU will face the Vancouver Island University Mariners in their home opener. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children, seniors and students. SFU students get free entry with a valid student ID, and minor hockey players get free entry with their team jersey. Fans can purchase tickets at the door or online by clicking here. Puck drop is at 7 pm.