The Maple Ridge Burrards lost two weekend games, slipping to .500 on the season.
Sunday at Planet Ice, they gave the league leading Victoria Shamrocks all they could handle before finally surrendering an 8-7 loss. The other defeat came in overtime in Burnaby, by a 10-8 score.
Victoria is 8-0-1 on the season.
“We’re buying in to a simple offensive and defensive system – they believe in it, they’re playing it, and it’s working for us,” said Victoria assistant coach Dave Lowden.
“Our strength comes out of the back end.”
He said the game tested their depth, and they went with rookie goaltender Cody Hagedorn for his first start.
“We have to have full confidence in him. He has to be confident he can stop the ball, and he came in and he absolutely played fantastic,” said Lowden.
He gave props to the Burrards, saying they look like an improved team.
“They’re a very good team, and we’re expecting to see them again. We’re going to see them Friday night, and we’re going to see them in the playoffs,” he said. “They are a balanced team, and they’re a strong team with a lot of talent.
The Burrards lost the game in a second period where they imploded for six goals against.
Mike Mallory had two goals and two assists, and Riley Lowen had a goal and three helpers. Andrew Murphy two goals and three points. Other scorers were Ben McIntosh and Mitchell Bannister.
Jesse King and Brandon Bull each had two goals and two assists for Victoria.
On Friday night the Burrards lost an overtime game 10-8 in Burnaby. Loewen had five points including a pair of goals. Ben McIntosh had two goals and an assist, Jarrett Davis scored twice, and Mallory and Murphy both scored.
The Burnaby power play punished the Burrards, going four-for-five. Ridge was one-for-two.
Rookie netminder Frankie Scigliano dropped to 3-3, but he tops the league for both his 7.14 goals against average and an .835 save percentage.
The Burrards slip into a tie for second with a 5-5 record.
They will be in Victoria on Friday, then host the Nanaimo Timbermen on Sunday at 6:45 p.m. at Planet Ice.