Abbotsford Pilots
| Abbotsford Pilots | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | Abbotsford, British Columbia |
| League | Pacific Junior Hockey League |
| Conference | Harold Brittain |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Home arena | MSA Arena |
| Colours | Aluminum, black, purple, white |
| General manager |
 Joe Goeson |
| Head coach |
Jim Cowden |
| Website | abbotsfordpilots.com |
| Franchise history | |
| 1975-1988 | Mission Pilots |
| 1988-present | Abbotsford Pilots |
The Abbotsford Pilots are a junior "B" ice hockey team based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Harold Brittain Conference of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL). The Pilots play their home games at MSA Arena. Jack Goesen is the team's president and general manager, Jim Cowden is the head coach.
The Mission Pilots were formed in 1975, and played in Mission for thirteen years, when they relocated south to Abbotsford, where the team name was retained. While in Mission, the team won no league championships. They played out of the Mission Arena on 7th avenue.
In 1988 the Mission Pilots relocated to Abbotsford, retaining the name, which was a name similar to that of the Abbotsford Flyers, a former Junior A level team in Abbotsford, that in itself was named for the Abbotsford International Airshow. In 1989, the Pilots won the league championship in only their second season in Abbotsford. The team suffered a 3-1 finals loss to the Richmond Sockeyes in the 1991-92 season, and did not win another championship until 1999, ten years after their first. The following year, the Pilots swept the Grandview Steelers to win the league championship, with player Brock Currie leading the league in scoring, and continued their success by winning the 2000 Cyclone Taylor Cup, and finished as consolation champions in the Keystone Cup. The following year the Pilots finished a disappointing fourth in the league, and lost in the league quarterfinals to the Sockeyes. But they rebounded the following year, winning the league again over the Delta Ice Hawks in the finals, before losing to the Sicamous Eagles in the final of the Cyclone Taylor Cup. Kiyomi Parsons was named league MVP. The following year, 2002-03, the Pilots finished first during the regular season, but lost 4-3 in the league finals to the Sockeyes again. In 2003-04, the Pilots slipped to fifth in the league standings, and did not win any trophies during the season, despite having a winning record of 22-18-2. They rebounded again the following year, defeating the Delta Ice Hawks in the final by a series score of 4-3, with Abbotsford goalie Travis Dyck being named league MVP.
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