The Ridge Meadows Flames, reigning champions of the Pacific Junior Hockey League, start their new season this Friday, Sept. 6, when they take on the White Rock Whalers at Cam Neely Arena.
The Flames are coming off an incredible season that saw them post the franchise's best-ever regular season record of 41 wins to just four losses, and three shootout losses. Then they went 12-3 in the playoffs to win the Stonehouse Cup league championship. That put them in the Mowat Cup provincial Junior A championship tournament in Kimberley. Injuries to two top-line forwards hurt their chances, and the Flames lost the championship game to the Revelstoke Grizzlies 3-2 in overtime.
Winning the Mowat Cup is all that's left to accomplish for the group, and they are bringing back the people to get it done.
GM Derek Bedard said the team is returning nine forwards from last season, six defenceman, and a goaltender. Also back is head coach Brent Hughes and most of his assistants.
The forward group is headed by leading scorer Theo Kochan, who had 41 goals and 74 points in 46 games. Other key forwards include: Centre Zack Lagrange (22 goals, 48 points in 35 games), Nolan Bowsher (10 goals, 43 points in 42 games), and Sam Allen (21 goals, 37 points in 42 games)
The defence returns intact, and key players include Jacob Loewen who led all PJHL defencemen in scoring (56 points in 47 games), and team captain Lucas Ravenstein (36 points in 42 games).
The rookie goaltending duo of Vaughn Kaliel and Matthew Candusso put up stellar numbers, but only the latter is back this season, as Kaliel pursues other opportunities in junior hockey.
Candusso posted a record of 21 wins and three losses, and a 0.927 save percentage.
"He's a foundational player for this organization," said Bedard. "And he not only stops a ton of pucks, he drives the culture bus. He loves being a Flame, and we love having him a Flame."
Bedard has filled out the roster with incoming rookies the organization is high on.
James Eagle of Port Coquitlam was the assistant captain on the North East Chiefs U18 provincial champion team, has already been with the Flames as an affiliate player, and Bedard calls the forward "a Swiss army knife – he does everything really well."
Forward Dalton Toma of Langley is from the Delta Hockey Academy U17 team, and has obvious offensive creativity.
"He's got a real high ceiling, and he'll be a fan favourite," said Bedard. "He's a special talent."
Owen Nutland of Maple Ridge was a key player on the local Midget A1 team.
"He's a responsible player, has a high compete level, wins battles, and as a 17-year-old he's got a long runway in front of him."
Josh Vallee of Coquitlam will share the goal with Candusso this season. He was also a B.C. champ with the Chiefs, and fits into the winning culture of the Flames, according to his new GM.
"He's not going to sit on the bench," said Bedard. "If you want to have aspirations, as we have, you need depth at all positions."
The Flames went from being a young team to one with seven 20-year-old veterans. The maximum in the league is nine, so the team could still trade for some veteran reinforcements in the season.
The Flames will start the season on Friday night – the team's regular home night – at 7:30 p.m. at Cam Neely Arena. Then on Saturday, they will take on the Outlaws in Mission.
