The 2000 Junior Flames defeated the 99 Fuel 5-1 Sunday to win the Langley spring hockey league peewee 2 playoff title.
Jakob McQuillin, from Dallas Teichrob and Jaden Rudland, gave the Flames 1-0 lead in the first period. They took a 3-0 lead in the second on goals by Matteo Gagno and Rudland, with assists to Sean McClosky, Cam Gjaltema, Teichrob and McQuillin.
The Fuel scored first in the third, but the Flames got insurance markers from Gavin Bruce and Taylor Lewis in the last minute to clinch the championship.
Colby Larson, Justin Cloete and Gjaltema earned assists on the last two goals.
Jeffrey Sunshine made more than 20 saves for the win.
Josh Walls, Zack Wismer, Nik Pederson, Nick Thompson and Evan Allen also played key roles for the Flames during their playoff run, during which they went undefeated and outscored opponents 16-3.
The Flames defeated Jr. Chiefs 4-0 in the semi-finals and opened the playoffs with a 7-0 win over the AA Young Guns.
The Flames went 6-2 in the regular spring season, finishing second behind the Fuel.
“For the last month, the team has really come together. The players bought in the mantra of believing in themselves, their teammates and coaches, the system. Do that, and you win hockey games,” said Jr. Flames head coach Mike Walls.
“Every single one of those kids has improved like you wouldn’t believe. And they deserved to win. Throughout the playoffs, they outworked every team they played. Even if they were down, they never gave up.”
Walls said they kept their focus simple – one shift at a time.
“It was a real group effort.”
• Another key member of the team, Kyle Jansson was injured at the end of the season and did not play in playoffs.