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Friends off: Nanaimo’s Bajkov and Coghlan square off in WHL semi-final

Apr 19, 2018 | 7:01 PM

NANAIMO — They hang out and train together in the off-season as friends in Nanaimo. Now they are about to go head-to-head for a chance to advance to the Western Hockey League final.

Nanaimo Minor Hockey grads Patrick Bajkov of the Everett Silvertips and Dylan Coghlan of the Tri-City Americans hit the ice Friday night in Everett for game 1 of the best-of-7 WHL Western Conference final.

Coghlan, a recently turned 20-year-old defenceman, said he and his teammates are confident after going 8-0 in series victories over Kelowna and Victoria.

He touched base with Bajkov a few times lately ahead of the Western Conference final.

“I’m just fortunate to have him as a friend, he’s a great player and great guy off the ice. We’ve got to keep a close eye on him throughout the series, he’s a dangerous player,” Coghlan told NanaimoNewsNOW from Kennewick, Wash.

Coghlan, who signed with the Vegas Golden Knights last off-season as an undrafted free agent, compiled 17 goals and 63 points in 69 regular season games in his fourth WHL campaign. Coghlan has 11 points in 8 playoff games with surging Tri-City.

Despite the offensive production, Coghlan said his top priority is taking care of his own end.

“I’m not really trying to focus on the offense right now, if it’s there I’ll take it,” Coghlan said. “My main focus right now is playing defence.”

Everett captured the Western Conference regular season title (47-20-2-3) and won 5 of 8 regular season meetings with Tri-City (38-25-8-1).

Bajkov had an outstanding regular season, posting 33 goals and 100 points in 72 games. The slick winger has 7 goals and 15 points in 10 playoff games, which saw the Tips topple Seattle and Portland.

Bajkov signed a contract last month with the Florida Panthers. He, like Coghlan, realized his NHL dream despite being passed over in previous entry drafts.

“We’re in the mix of playoffs and it’s good just to put that behind me and focus on the last little bit of my junior career and the playoffs,” Bajkov said.

Bajkov looks forward to what he expects will be an intense series against a well-rounded Tri-City team.

He said playing against Coghlan makes the high-stakes match-up a little more interesting.

“It’s exciting, we’re great friends off the ice, we hang out quite a bit in the summer and we train together with Clay Smith at Prime.”

Off-season training at Prime Sport Performance and Therapy in Nanaimo signifies a strong bond between Smith, Bajkov and Coghlan.

The junior hockey stars underwent rigorous off-season strength and conditioning training with Smith since 2014.

Smith said he’s proud of how Bajkov and Coghlan have evolved as athletes and men. He said they both showed unwavering dedication and consistency.

“It’s not how good your one season is or how good your one off-season is,” Smith said. “It’s a long-term plan and as long as you’re consistent with the plan and the process and buy into it anything can happen.”

Smith said Bajkov needed to pack on muscle three years ago. In conjunction with training, Bajkov followed Smith’s orders of waking up at 2 a.m. every morning for 8 weeks to eat a sweet potato.

Smith noted Bajkov gained 20 pounds that off-season.

Smith is going to both games this weekend in Everett to get an up-close look at the athletes he pushed.

“I’m excited, I think my biggest concern is which team am I going to cheer for.”

 

Ian@NanaimoNewsNow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes