Jordan Pughe netted an empty-netter in the dying minute of the game to give him a hat trick as well as solidly seal the Aldergrove Kodiaks in first place in the Harold Brittain division.
The North Vancouver Wolf Pack had come to Aldergrove Arena to put up a good fight but went home with a 4-2 loss on Dec. 7. The Pack outshot Aldergrove 46-36 but couldn’t find the back of the net in six power plays. Kodiaks keeper Ross Baadsvik earned the game’s second star for stopping 44 of the tries while Pughe was named first star.
The Kodiaks took the lead in the first with a goal by Pughe at 17:30, assisted by Ryan Procyshyn and Daniel Higgs, and they never looked back.
Robert Jang scored the Kodiaks sole power play goal out of six at 4:00 of the second period, assisted by Brandon Potomak and Colton Precourt, before the Pack were able to net one at 10:58.
At 31 seconds into the third period, Pughe scored again, assisted by Higgs and Matthew Luongo, and 36 seconds later the Pack scored their last goal of the night. The Pack pulled keeper Jordan Liem in the final minute for the man advantage but lost control of the puck and Pughe capitalized with the empty net shot at 19:44.
The Kodiaks sit at 34 points after 24 games (16-6-1-1), five points ahead of rivals Abbotsford Pilots, who have 29 points after 22 games (14-7-1-0).
The Kodiaks were down two men, Thomas Hardy and Ryan Veillet, due to injuries, but the team has a full week to rest and recover as their next game is Wednesday, Dec. 14, 7:15 p.m. at Aldergrove Aena against the Pilots.
