It took close to a month, but the Ridge Meadows Flames finally notched their first win of the 2011/12 Pacific International Junior Hockey League Thursday against the Mission Icebreakers on the road.
However, the Flames fell 9-2 the following night at home against the Aldergrove Kodiaks, leaving the local junior B team without a win at home yet this season.
Sean Pesut earned first-star honours Thursday in Mission thanks to a pair of goals late in the first period to put the Flames up 2-0. Alexander Smith added a tally of his own before the period was through, giving the Flames a three-goal lead headed into the second.
The Icebreakers may have been down, but they were far from out, as a pair of power play goals in the second period put them within one. Former Flame Felix Fielder scored his second goal of the night less than seven minutes into the third period to tie the game before Paul Piluso scored on the power play to give the Flames the go-ahead goal.
Flames goalie Jordan Eggert was perfect the rest of the way, ensuring the first win of the season for Ridge Meadows.
Despite outshooting the Icebreakers 21-15 in the first period, it was Mission who ended up having the edge in shots on goal with 39 to the Flames’ 35.
Pesut finished the night with three points, while Bradley Wardner notched a pair of assists. Kyle Jangula, Trevor Harris and Marco Ballarin each registered assists.
The Flames’ celebration at their first win was short-lived, however, as the team found itself on the wrong end of a 9-2 score 24 hours later.
The Aldergrove Kodiaks scored five times on 15 shots in the first period to put the game out of reach for the Flames.
Flames back up netminder Nicholas Clark got the hook 13 minutes into the game after letting three pucks by him. Eggert didn’t fare any better, allowing four goals on 11 shots over the next period and a half.
Clark was back in net for the third period, allowing another two goals on 11 shots.
In all, the Flames netminders combined for a woeful 0.727 save percentage.
Scoring for the Flames were Kyle Jangula and Paul Piluso. Adam Bartsch picked up a pair of assists, while Marco Ballarin had a single assist.
The Flames will try to get their first home win of the season this Friday, Oct. 28, as they take on the Mission Icebreakers at Planet Ice in Maple Ridge.Jr. B Flames notch first win of season
