The Ridge Meadows Flames needed overtime, but got a win in their Stonehouse Cup opener.
The Flames started their best-of-seven Pacific Junior Hockey League championship series against the Delta Ice Hawks on Wednesday, March 19 at Cam Neely Arena, and won 4-3 in the extra period.
The Flames trailed the game 3-1 midway through the third period, when a couple of late goals by team captain Lukas Ravenstein tied the contest and forced overtime.
Franchise all-time scoring leader Theo Kochan was the overtime hero, scoring his second of the game and eighth of the playoffs to give his team the win, nine minutes into the extra frame. He had two goals and an assist, and was the game's first star. Nolan Bowsher also had three points, all assists. Bowsher and Kochan lead the Flames in playoff scoring, each with 20 points in 10 games.
Flames goaltender Matthew Candusso made 49 saves on 52 shots against the potent Ice Hawks offence.
The Flames did a great job on Delta's Grady Lenton, holding the playoff scoring leader, who has 29 points in 12 games, off the scoresheet – other than a 10-minute misconduct penalty he took.
The Flames will host the Ice Hawks at Cam Neely Arena on Friday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. for game two.
