The Ridge Meadows Flames swept their first-round Pacific Junior Hockey League playoff series against the Chilliwack Jets, winning game four on Wednesday night in Sardis by a score of 6-1.
They advance to a second round best-of-seven series against the Langley Trappers, who finished two points ahead of the Flames in the regular season. That gave the Trappers first in the Harold Brittain Conference, and home ice advantage in this series.
“We took care of business and got the sweep,” said GM Derek Bedard. “Our guys really played the right way, with a good commitment to defence.”
The Flames held the high-scoring Jets to just three goals over the four games.
Craig Schouten, whose last name gives away his game plan, finished the series with six goals and nine points, and is the league scoring leader in the playoffs.
Bedard said Nic Amsler and Ryan Denney, who finished first and third in PJHL scoring during the regular season, drew a lot of attention from Chilliwack checkers, and Schouten made them pay.
He noted the fourth line of Zach Urquhart, David Stepputat and Nathan Frew all put up points, which shows the team’s impressive depth.
“A four-line attack that comes at you, every shift, was too much to handle,” he said.
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Ridge Meadows Flames forward Cam Nikaniuk scored his first #PJHL goal tonight in Chilliwack! Congratulations Cam! @flamesjunior #MapleRidge #PittMeadows pic.twitter.com/16pMo1WuLv
— Andrew Cheverie (@andrewcheverie) February 24, 2022
Denney had two goals and two assists to lead the team on Wednesday, and had three goals and seven points in the four games.
Ridge goaltedner Cam Connolly, in his first full season as a Flame, won all four games while posting a 0.976 save percentage.
“He had a phenomenal series. He’s very dialed in,” said Bedard. “We’re very fortunate to have three good goaltenders.”
The Flames have beaten the Trappers three times in five meetings this year, and one of the losses came in a shootout. They last met on Dec. 22, with the Flames winning handily by a 6-2 score.
“We’re two very similar teams in the way we’re constructed,” said Bedard. “It’s going to be a good series for sure.”
There will be no Friday game in Maple Ridge. The second round series cannot start before March 1, and a schedule has not been set. Bedard said it will soon be posted on the team’s social media pages soon.
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