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Junior hockey playoff action tonight in Maple Ridge

Flames host Chilliwack Jets to open seven game series
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The Ridge Meadows Flames start the playoffs on Wednesday night.

The Ridge Meadows Flames begin their playoffs tonight, hosting game one in a best-of-seven series against the tough Chilliwack Jets in the opening round of the Pacific Junior Hockey League playoffs.

They are both teams that can bring a lot of offensive heat, and Flames GM Derek Bedard predicts it’s going to be an entertaining matchup.

“It should be a heckuva series,” said Bedard. “Their top-end talent is as good as any team in the league.”

The Jets have Caleb Garet, who put up 82 points to tie Flame Nicholas Amsler for the league scoring championship. The Flames also have Ryan Denny, who was just one point back with 81, but the sniper posted a whopping 47 goals, which was a new Flames record.

READ ALSO: Amsler gets Flames a share of the PJHL scoring title

The Flames had 66 points in 44 games this year, with a record of 32-10-1-1. The two top teams in the league – the Langley Trappers and North Vancouver Wolf Pack – finished just one win ahead with 68 points.

The Flames also had a league best offense with 219 goals, and their 109 goals-against was also tops in the Junior B league.

Bedard said it has been a great regular season, and he gives credit to coach Brent Hughes, the former NHL player and pro coach who heads an impressive staff.

READ ALSO: Former NHLer takes over as Ridge Meadows Flames head coach

“Brent has been phenomenal. There’s been a culture change from the coaching staff right through the team,” said Bedard. “It’s a dream team, as far as a coaching staff.”

He said the buy-in from the players has made it all work.

The Jets can also bring it on offence, and were one of only three teams to post more than 200 goals this season. They posted a record of 30-13-1-0.

The Flames won the season series between these two teams three games to two, and took the last two games convincingly, by scores of 6-3 and 7-2.

The last time these teams met, Denney ripped the Jets for a hat trick and five points. The game before that he had four points.

Craig Schouten, who was acquired for offensive depth, also had a two-goal game against them recently. The Cloverdale resident and former Richmond Sockeye posted 21 goals and 39 points in just 26 games, and Bedard noted that he has been a high-end offensive talent for the Flames. His 1.5 points per game is top ten in the PJHL.

Tonight’s game goes at 8:15 p.m., and game two will be at Cam Neely Arena on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Then the series shifts to Chilliwack.

READ ALSO: Sweden knocks Canadian men’s hockey team out of Olympic medal contention


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Neil Corbett

About the Author: Neil Corbett

I have been a journalist for more than 30 years, the past decade with the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News.
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