After winning 12 straight games to start the season, the Ridge Meadows Flames suffered their first loss.
The Flames beat the Langley Trappers 7-2 on Friday night as the hosts at Cam Neely Arena, but the next night lost to the Whalers in White Rock by a 7-5 score.
Flames GM Derek Bedard said White Rock has been one of the top teams in the Pacific Junior Hockey League this season, currently tied for fourth place. The Flames had beaten them 9-1 in the first game of the season.
"I'm sure they were chomping at the bit to redeem themselves," said Bedard.
The Whalers jumped the Flames early, and built up a 3-0 lead after the first period. The Flames made it close, but couldn't come back.
"We gave up two short-handed goals, which is not characteristic of us," said Bedard.
"You've got to have some moments of adversity – it's part of the process of winning."
The Flames cut the lead to 4-2 after two, then got a couple of third-period power play goals that made it 5-4 with just five minutes left to play, but Whalers forward Zachary Johns scored twice down the stretch to give his team insurance.The Whalers now have 11 wins and three losses.
Goaltender Josh Vallee took his first loss with the Flames, but with four shutouts in six outings the rookie is still among the league leaders in both save percentage (.940) and goals against average (1.34).
Bedard said the rookie has been outstanding this year, and the team has played great defence in front of him.
Against Langley, Zack Lagrange was the game's first star with two goals and an assist, and that vaulted him to first overall in Pacific Junior Hockey League scoring, with 16 goals and 32 points after just 13 games. The Pitt Meadows product has gone pointless only once, and has played seven games with three or more points already.
Bedard said Lagrange is part of a great line with Nolan Bowsher (10 goals, 18 assists) and Theo Kochan (11 goals, 14 assists), and all are in the top six league scorers.
"All three of them are special players, all offensively gifted, and they're good buddies," said Bedard. "They're great to watch."
Joshua Bettesworth also had three points on a goal and two assists, as the second star. Jacob Roche was the third star with a goal and an assist. Matthew Candusso got the win in net, with 33 saves on 35 shots.
The Flames' record is 12-1, and their 24 points has them tied for second in the standings, as the Chilliwack Jets have gone 13-1.
• Kochan was player of the week for the period ending Oct. 13. Sidelined since Sept. 20, Kochan returned to the Flames lineup with a bang by notching a hat trick plus three helpers in a 9-2 road win at North Van.
• The Flames next game will be this Friday, Oct. 25 at Cam Neely Arena when they host the North Vancouver Wolf Pack (3-8-1-1). Game time is 7:30 p.m.
