The Ridge Meadows Flames fell 4-1 Saturday in Mission and were eliminated from the Pacific Junior Hockey League playoffs.
The local Junior Bs jumped out to an unlikely 3-0 lead in games in the best-of-seven playoff series against the Outlaws, who finished first in the Harold Brittain Conference. But they couldn’t convert on four chances to eliminate Mission and advance to the final four.
The Flames lost in overtime 3-2 in Game 4.
Then in Game 5 they jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two periods.
“We got one period away from winning the series,” said GM Jamie Fiset.
But the Outlaws scored twice to tie it up, then stole another 3-2 overtime win. Just 14 seconds into OT, they scored on a shot and a rebound.
“It just ended up on the wrong stick,” said Fiset.
“That Game 5 overtime loss hurt us. It was a tough one, because we had them,” he added.
“The hockey gods weren’t on our side there.”
In Game 6, back in Maple Ridge on Friday, the Flames came out hard and played well, said Fiset. But there were opportunities missed – a couple of loose pucks lying in the Outlaws’ goal crease that weren’t converted.
That game was a 3-0 loss, and it set up Saturday’s elimination game.
The shots were even, 27-26 for Mission, but Cameron Alder was the only Ridge player to score on Saturday.
The series saw the biggest crowd that the Flames have ever had on Friday night, the full house and the buzz in the building offering a glimpse of the support that a sustained run to a championship would bring the Flames.
“It was a really healthy crowd and a great atmosphere,” said Fiset, but he did not have an attendance figure.
He said the series build a natural rivalry with the Outlaws.
“The series didn’t get ugly or silly, but we’re definitely two teams who like to hit each other.”
Flames first-year coach Bayne Ryshak and his players got valuable experience in the series, said Fiset.
“It was good for Bayne to be in that situation. He did a pretty good job managing our guys, and keeping them focussed.
“There’s no shortcut to experience. You’ve got to pay your dues.”
He hopes to have a talented group of returning players, led by Halen Cordoni, Bradley Crompton and Andrew Strelezki. Crompton is the leading scorer in the playoffs with five goals and 11 points through seven games, and Strelezki had five goals and eight points.
Mission will next face the Abbotsford Pilots in the conference finals.