Skip to content

Stumbling Flames run into conference's top team

Ridge Meadows Flames suffered a pair of losses over the weekend, and as the first month of the junior B season closes, they have sunk...
71699mapleridgeimg_5137.JPG
Flames try to clear the front of their net in recent action.

The Ridge Meadows Flames suffered a pair of losses over the weekend, and as the first month of the junior B season closes, they have sunk near the bottom of the standings.

On Friday night at Planet Ice, the Flames put together a late comeback to salvage a point in a 5-4 overtime loss.

The North Vancouver Wolf Pack led the game 4-2 with less than four minutes left to play, but the Flames scored twice, including the tying goal with 34 seconds on the clock, to force OT.

Dale Howel had a goal and two assists, Marco Ballarin had a goal and an assist, and Grant Rostvig and Vitaly Morozov both scored. Travis Oddy and MacLean Hewitt had two assists each, while goaltender Kurt Klimek make 31 saves on 36 shots.

The Flames lost 2-1 to the North Delta Devils on Saturday at the Sungod Arena. Their only goal came from Trevor Sutton, assisted by Jordan Rendle and Shawn Tilton. In goal, Tyler Read made 38 saves in a tight contest.

The losses drop the Flames’ record to 1-4-1-1, as the Pacific International Junior Hockey League continues to include wins, losses, overtime losses and ties in their standings.

The schedule is not giving the club any breaks as it enters October. This Friday night the Flames host the tough Aldergrove Kodiaks. They have been the Harold Brittain conference champions each of the last two seasons, and are in first place again so far this year after winning five straight games. The Kodiaks are led by Stephen Ryan, who has scored eight goals in six games so far this season.

• Game time is Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Planet Ice.