The Ridge Meadows Flames will play a game with first place in the Pacific Junior Hockey League on the line on Tuesday night.
Currently the dominant Maple Ridge Junior hockey squad is alone in first after beating the Surrey Knights 9-4 on Friday, Nov. 17. The Flames have 19 wins, two losses, and two shootout losses, for 40 points after 23 games.
But just one point back of them are the rival Delta Ice Hawks, and they could take over first place when the teams with a win in Delta on Nov. 21.
It was a big points night for Flames players on Friday, as three players had three points: First star Nolan Bowsher with a goal and two assists, second star Pierce Whyte with two goals and an assist, and Theo Kochan with a goal and two assist. Jack Foster also scored twice.
Rookie Vaughn Kaliel got the win in net, with 23 saves on 27 shots.
The Flames suffered a 4-3 shootout loss to the Langley Trappers on Nov. 15
Over the last two games, offensive defenceman Jakob Loewen had two goals and three assists.
Kochan (18 goals, 16 assists, 34 points), Loewen (6, 28, 34) and Fedele (15, 17, 32) are all among the top 10 scorers in the PJHL.
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• Flames defencemen Brandon Osborne and Tyler Blatz, goaltender Matthew Candusso, and forward Zack Lagrange have been selected to represent team PJHL at the upcoming BCHC Top Prospects Game. The second annual game will be played on Nov. 28th at McArthur Park Arena in Kamloops. The PJHL team is being coached by Aldo Bruno, while Flames GM Derek Bedard is the operations manager.
The game sees the top young players from the PJHL and the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League face off in front of scouts from the Western Hockey League and post-secondary hockey programs.
The first BCHC Prospects game was played in Chilliwack last year.
“Last year’s BCHC Prospects Game proved to be extremely competitive and well received by coaches and scouts,” said KIJHL Commissioner Jeff Dubois. “We’re very excited for the KIJHL and the Kamloops Storm to host this event in November and continue to make this a tremendous experience for the top young Junior A players in British Columbia.”
The two Prospects Game teams will arrive in Kamloops on Nov. 27 for a team practice and banquet dinner. Game day activities will include a morning skate, team meetings and video sessions.
• The Flames next home game will be on Friday, Nov. 24, when they get a rematch with Langley at Cam Neely Arena. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
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