The Ridge Meadows Flames will start the Mowat Cup on Tuesday, April 22 against the Grand Forks Border Bruins.
The champions of the Pacific Junior Hockey League will meet the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League champs in a best-of-five series to determine the top Junior A, Tier Two team in B.C.
For the first two games the Flames will be the home team, but they will play out of George Preston Arena (20699 42 Ave.) in Langley, as Maple Ridge's home rink, Cam Neely Arena, is now dry floor for the spring and summer.
Game two will happen on Wednesday, April 23. Both games start at 7 p.m.
The last three games will be in the Kootenays. The Border Bruins have lost only one game out of 17 in the playoffs. Like the Flames, they also had a great regular season, winning the league with 33 wins and 71 points in 44 games. Their win percentage was a whopping .807, but the Flames was even better at .896. Ridge had 42 wins and 86 points on 48 games. They won the league playoffs with a record of 12 wins and three losses.
"It's the two undisputed, number one teams in each league, going at it," said Flames GM Derek Bedard. "It will be a battle."
The Flames won the Stonehouse Cup championship last season, and played for the Mowat Cup, but injuries to top forwards hampered their drive for a provincial trophy.
Tickets cost $20 online or $22 at the box office for adults, $15 online and $17 at the rink for seniors (65-plus) and students (6-17), and $2 for youth up to five. They are available at showpass.com
Bedard noted online tickets are not only cheaper, but they also will allow entrance to the games without fans waiting in ticket lines. But tickets will be available at the door.
