Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times
Sports On Deck
Kraft helps hockey If there’s one thing that brings communities together, it’s the game of hockey. Whether it’s watching the big game with friends, playing a game of pick-up at Maple Ridge’s Planet Ice, or cheering on a favourite team at the Pitt Meadows Arena, hockey builds communities. Kraft Hockey Goes On is recognizing 25 individuals and $1 million will be awarded to Hockey Canada-affiliated organizations. Nominations can be submitted at www.KraftHockeyGoesOn.ca. • More online: www.mrtimes.com, click on “Sports”
Kicker at Flames BC Lions kicker Paul McCallum will attend the Ridge Meadows Flames game against the Mission City Paul McCallum Outlaws BC Lions kicker on Feb. 15 and give away a signed jersey. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m. • More online: www.mrtimes.com, click on “Sports”
Quantum leaps Maple Ridge’s Quantum Gymnastics Centre competitive trampoline and tumbling team came back with a vengeance this past weekend at the first BC Cup competition of the year. The last time Quantum’s competitive program brought home medals was four years ago, before the program was discontinued. In September 2012 the program resurfaced with a crop of new, young, talented athletes, who won four medals. • More online: www.mrtimes.com, click on “Sports”
McIntosh honoured Lacrosse power forward Ben McIntosh was chosen first overall by the Maple Ridge Burrards. For McIntosh, it was a great way to cap his junior career. “It’s definitely an honour to go first, there was so much talent in this draft and so many skilled players graduating that it could have gone a number of ways,” McIntosh said. • More online: www.mrtimes.com, click on “Sports”
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Recreation
A13
Reach The TIMES' sports desk: Phone: 604-463-2281 or email: smclaren@mrtimes.com
Junior B hockey
Flames snuffed out in Kodiaks’ den Ridge Meadows flickered against Aldergrove, but it appears as though the rivalry is starting to heat up. by Troy Landreville
tlandreville@mrtimes.com
You would have had to recruit a few brave souls from search and rescue to pull the Ridge Meadows Flames out of the hole they dug themselves into last Wednesday at Aldergrove Arena. The host Aldergrove Kodiaks built a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes of play, added two more tallies in the second period, then made it 7-0 on MacLean Hewitt’s hat trick goal at the 4:23 mark of the third frame. The teams exchanged two goals each the rest of the way in a 9-2 Troy Landreville/TIMES Kodiaks victory. Ridge Meadows Flames forward Travis Oddy made a sharp stop with the puck in front of Aldergrove Kodiaks defenceman Stefan Gonzales last “I didn’t mind the first little bit Wednesday at Aldergrove Arena. Oddy scored one of the Flames’ goals in a 9-2 loss to the host Kodiaks. Flames forward Adam Bartsch (below) for us. We were okay right off the tried a wraparound while Kodiaks’ goaltender Mark Menicucci blocked the lower part of his net. jump,” Flames head coach Jamie Fiset said. “It was the second goal press time) while the Kodiaks (26the goal-crease. Referee Duncan Moody Panthers Friday at Planet that sunk us. Then you could see 14-0-1 and winners of four in a Brow threw the book at Smith, Ice. that we couldn’t recover.” row going into last weekend) will giving him a five-minute major for Results are not available due to Flames forward Sean Pesut face the third-place Flames (14-20charging and a game misconduct. holiday weekend early press deadended Aldergrove goaltender Mark 2-5 at press time). Menicucci was handed a two-minlines. Menicucci’s shutout bid with a Despite the chasm in points ute minor for roughing. power-play goal 6:42 into the third between his team and the Flames, “They ran our goaltender period. and the fact Aldergrove has won and it caused a big scene. Last Wednesday’s win moved Then, with the score Scan this all six regular season meetings It’s a classic example of the Kodiaks to within five points 8-1 Kodiaks, Travis Oddy page with between the two rivals, Johnson them trying to set up some of the Harold Brittain Conferencenetted the second Flames isn’t taking Ridge Meadows lightly. emotion for the playoffs,” leading Abbotsford Pilots, with goal with 9:25 to play in This is a Flames team that, prior Kodiaks head coach Ron three games remaining in their regulation. to Friday, made a 13-point jump Johnson said. “There’s season. Aldergrove’s Tyson from last year, and still had three going to be a rivalry now, However, barring a meltdown Solotki rounded out the games left in its season. for sure.” down the stretch, Abbotsford scoring with 5:30 remain“They’re a very skilled hockey Fiset said he didn’t see appears to have a lock on top spot ing in the game. team,” he said. “I always believe in the conference. The game was scoreless until the the play as it materialized. you should respect your opponent “Our guy drove the net hard and The Pilots, who possessed a 2810:47 mark, when Hewitt opened and they’re a good hockey club. there was a collision. I didn’t get a 10-0-2 record at press time, had the scoring. We’re going in with our game good look at it at the time,” Fiset one game in hand on the Kodiaks Fourteen seconds later, smooth faces on. We’re looking forward to said. “He came out of the corner before the weekend. skating Kodiaks defenceman a good series.” pretty hard and drove into traffic, So, judging from the standings Stefan Gonzales went end-to-end Before the campaign got underand this stuff happens. There was prior to the holiday weekend, the before rifling home a shot to give way, Fiset predicted the Flames stuff happening on both sides.” Pilots will play the fourth-place Aldergrove a 2-0 advantage. would meet the Kodiaks in the The Flames hosted the Port Mission City Outlaws (7-31-1-2 at Then, at the 14:40 mark of the opening round. opening frame, Kenny Prato made “We’ve been building towards it 3-0 for the home team when this since the summertime,” he he found the net on a Kodiaks’ said. “We’ll be ready once the powerplay. playoffs start.” Aldergrove’s Ryan Simpson Fiset said the Flames have dealt rounded out the first period scorwith adversity all season. ing with 1:10 remaining in the “We’re fairly resilient,” Fiset opening frame. said “That urgency, that extra gear Also scoring for the Kodiaks that we’ve been able to tap into was Stephan Ryan and Spencer just wasn’t there [on Wednesday]. McHaffie. But I know we have the ability to Sandpaper entered the game at bounce back.” the 14:58 mark of the third per• See photo gallery online at iod when Flames captain Alex www.mrtimes.com Smith collided with Menicucci in
Collision course
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