The Aldergrove Kodiaks wrapped up their first round of playoffs action Wednesday night at Aldergrove Arena with a 7-4 win over Mission Outlaws.
The Kodiaks had won the first three games but were badly beaten in game four, before taking the series in game five.
The win advances the Kodiaks, the Pacific Junior Hockey League champions, to the next round in the Harold Brittain conference playoffs. Ridge Meadows Flames are currently leading their series 3-1 against the Abbotsford Pilots.
Over in the Tom Shaw conference the division’s top team, Delta Ice Hawks lead their series 3-1 over North Vancouver Wolf Pack, and the Grandview Steelers are up 3-2 over the Richmond Sockeyes.
Kodiak Quinncy Leroux was the first star of the Feb. 22 game against the Outlaws, notching a pair of goals and an assist.
Leroux opened the scoring early in the first period, with an assist from Clayton Schroeder, to put the Kodiaks in the lead 1-0 in the period.
Kodiaks Jacob De Waal and Davin Padgham scored two more in the second period, before the Outlaws finally responded with a goal on a power play.
In the dying minutes of the period Kodiak Cameron Davitt scored a short-handed goal and the Outlaws scored on that power play. With less than a minute to go in the second Leroux scored his second goal of the game, for a 5-2 lead over the Outlaws.
The Outlaws were first to score in the third period, first short-handed and then on a power play, to put them within a goal of tying the game. However, that was to be their final hurrah as the Kodiaks Matt Oliver and Elijah Vilio scored two more in the dying minutes of the game, both of the goals empty-netters on power plays.
Kodiaks’ assists came from Schroeder, Leroux, Sam Bodnaruk, Eric Callegari, Arjan Cheema, and Davitt.
Kodiaks keeper Dawson Rodin turned away four of the Outlaws’ 18 shots on goal that night. The Kodiaks outshot the Outlaws 42-18.
Aldergrove Kodiaks team photo by Doug Abbott
KURT LANGMANN ACTION PHOTOS
Aldergrove Kodiak Kyle Bosko in action Feb. 22 against Mission Outlaws.
Aldergrove Kodiak Eric Callegari in action Feb. 22 against Mission Outlaws.
Aldergrove Kodiak Cameron Davitt in action Feb. 22 against Mission Outlaws.
Aldergrove Kodiak Jacob De Waal scores Feb. 22 against Mission Outlaws.
Aldergrove Kodiak Quinncy Leroux scored twice Feb. 22 against Mission Outlaws.
Aldergrove Kodiak Clayton Schroeder in action Feb. 22 against Mission Outlaws.