The Aldergrove Kodiaks blanked the visiting Ridge Meadows Flames Wednesday night to capture the regular season crown as Pacific Junior Hockey League champions.
The 4-0 victory puts the Kodiaks at 66 points after 39 games, with an enviable 33 wins and six losses this season.
With only five regular season games left before playoffs start, none of the other nine teams have a hope of meeting or exceeding the Kodiaks’ record. In the Harold Brittain conference the Abbotsford Pilots trail 16 points behind the Kodiaks at 50 points, while in the Tom Shaw conference, it’s a dead heat between the Grandview Steelers and Delta Ice Hawks at 55 and 53 points, respectively.
The Kodiaks outshot the Flames in every period for a game total of 37 to 22, and neither team was able to score on a power play, although the Kodiaks scored twice short-handed.
Kodiak Matt Oliver scored early in the first period, short-handed with assists from Kyle Bosko and Davin Padgham to put them up 1-0 in the first period.
The Kodiaks scored three more in the second period. First to score was affiliate Lincoln Lane, followed by Quinncy Leroux and Clayton Schroeder (short-handed). Assists came from Leroux, Oliver, Lane, keeper Caleb Ziemann, Sam Bodnaruk and Padgham.
The Kodiaks meet the Steelers this Sunday afternoon at Burnaby Winter Club, and host the Surrey Knights on Wed., Feb. 1, 7:15 p.m. at Aldergrove Arena.
Their final regular season games are Feb. 3 away at the Pilots, Feb. 8 hosting the Richmond Sockeyes, and away Feb. 9 at Surrey Knights.
PHOTO BELOW: Aldergrove Kodiaks’ Clayton Schroeder scored the fourth goal in a 4-0 victory Jan. 25 over Ridge Meadows Flames.
