It has been a busy few days for the Maple Ridge junior B team.
The Ridge Meadows Flames made a significant trade Thursday, came back to tie a hockey game on Friday, and then hosted the Pacific Junior Hockey League all-star game on Monday.
The trade came at the league deadline, as the Flames re-acquired Paul Georgeopolous from the Port Moody Panthers, a 20-year-old who can play all over the ice, but the Flames go him to shore up their defence.
Georgeopoulos had his most productive games as a Flame, getting 18 points in 19 games after being acquired midway through the 2016-2017 season, when he was playing forward.
Flames GM Derek Bedard wanted to bring him back as a 20-year-old, and said his faultless work ethic should be infectious to his team.
“He’s the ultimate warrior – he works hard every shift.”
He was in the lineup for Friday night’s game, which was his 200th in the PJHL.
The Flames also got Cameron Judson back in the deal, a six-foot-one, 206-pound forward out of Surrey. He is 18, and has played 102 games in the Pacific Junior Hockey League, putting up 47 points.
“We’ve had our eye on him,” said Bedard. “He’s going to add some more size to our forward group, and some physicality.”
“At playoff time, size and toughness is valuable.”
He said Judson also has a hard shot, and protects the puck well in the cycle game.
The Flames gave up Ayden Power, a 17-year-old defenceman out of Langley, and future considerations. Bedard said Power will get a better opportunity to play meaningful minutes in Port Moody.
Bedard said all of the teams were busy, and many made roster moves as the playoffs loom.
“The league is really competitive this year, and the standings are really tight.”
Tie Steelers
On Friday night the Flames tied the Grandview Steelers 2-2 in what the GM saw as a solid effort.
“We had a number of guys out due to injuries, suspensions and illness,” said Bedard. “But we came back from being down twice, and had a couple of good looks in overtime.”
So when they were trailing 1-0, he was happy to see Maple Ridge rookie Ethan Kitsch tie the game assisted by two affiliate players – Avery Hargitt and Ryan MacDonald.
Grandview went ahead again, but the flames answered midway through the third, as Jarod McKay scored assisted by Georgeopolous and Jackson O’Brien.
All-star game
On Monday night, the Flames hosted the all-star game at Cam Neely Arena.
“All-star games are what they are,” said Bedard, adding the final score looked like two touchdowns – 14-11 for the Tom Shaw Conference over the Harold Brittain Conference.
“Defence was not played.”
He said it has been about 15 years since Maple Ridge hosted a league all-star game, and he hopes they can take regular turn in the future.
“We definitely want to throw our hat in the ring.”
Local fans saw Flame Eric Bourhill score on a setup by Tetsuya Prior.
Mateo Toledo of Grandview led the Shaw Conference with four goals and teammate Mateo Coltellaro pitched in with three. Trevor Sundher of Langley and Jacob DeWaal of Abbotsford each recorded hat-tricks for the Brittain Conference.
• The Flames host the Mission City Outlaws on Friday night at Planet Ice at 7:30 p.m.
