The Ridge Meadows Flames lost the first game of the Mowat Cup 3-2 to the Grand Forks Border Bruins on April 22 in Langley.
Game two of the provincial Junior A Tier Two championship series goes Wednesday night, April 23, back at George Preston Arena, at 7 p.m.
It was the Flames first game action since they won their second-straight Stonehouse Cup league championship on March 30.
The Bruins opened the scoring on the power play, outnumbering the Flames in front of the net, and banging in a rebound.
But Ridge's big forward Jonah Power Smith evened the score, and then Nolan Bowsher gave the Flames a lead. The team's playoff scoring leader picked off a Bruins pass at the defensive zone blueline and took off on a rush. With a linemate headed to the front of the net drawing the defender, Bowsher looked pass, then snapped a shot into the twine. It was his 10th goal in 16 post-season games this season.
But the Bruins evened the score at 2-2 with their second power play goal. Then they got the game winner as good hustle gave them a rush chance, and sent Thomas Clarke in alone on net. He slipped the puck through Flames goaltender Matthew Candusso.
The high-scoring Flames managed just 21 shots on goal, just nine in the last two periods, and were outshot 38-21.
Then the best-of-five series between the champions of the Pacific Junior Hockey League and the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League will switch to the Kootenays for the last three games. Those will be held on April 26, 27 and 29 in Grand Forks.
