Hawks score late to thwart Chiefs

Maple Ridge team clings on to play-off spot after one-point weekend

The Vancouver North East Chiefs took on the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League-leading Valley West Hawks on the road in the Interior last weekend, coming home with a single point from their two-game series.

All BCMML games were held in Kamloops and Chase as part of the league’s all-star weekend.

The Hawks opened the scoring Saturday in Kamloops, and added a marker early in the second to take a 2-0 lead. The Chiefs answered back, however, with Jacob Wensley and Adam Rockwood both scoring to the game at two apiece after two periods.

The Chiefs jumped out to their first lead of the game early in the third period thanks to a goal by Nick Hermany, before Michael Scobie scored with eight minutes left to put them ahead by two goals.

However, the Hawks proved why they are the top team in the province, as they managed to claw their way back to tie the game in final six minutes. Trevor Cox brought the Hawks within one, before Kyle Becker scored his second of the game to tie things 4-4 with just under two minutes remaining.

Joey Santucci had a pair of assists for the Chiefs, while Taylor Green, Jamie Waddington, and Truman Gonzales each notched a single helper each.

The Chiefs opened the scoring Sunday in Chase, taking a 1-0 lead on Waddington’s goal late in the first period. The two teams traded goals in the second period, with Scobie scoring for the Chiefs, before the Hawks tied the game at 2-2 going into the third period.

The Hawks took their first lead of the game three minutes into the third period, however, Dominic Centis scored little more than a minute later for the Chiefs, tying the game at 3-3.

With time ticking down, it looked as if the teams would be headed for another tie, when Gonzales took a minor penalty for hooking. With less than a minute to go, the Hawks power play got to work, scoring the game-winner with 37 seconds left.

With the loss, the Chiefs now sit at 27 points, with a record of 10-11-7. The Chiefs remain in sixth place, and hold on to the final BCMML play-off berth, three points ahead of seventh-place North Island Silvertips.

Team White takes BCMML all-star game

Team White beat Team Blue 6-5 in the B.C. Hockey League Major Midget all-star game Friday night in Kamloops. Vancouver North East Chiefs Matt Bissett, Joey Santucci, and Tyler Martin were part of the winning team, while Chiefs coach Don Menard served as assistant coach for the team.

Maple Ridge News