Ridge Meadows Flames started the new year with 3-0 win over the Abbotsford Pilots on the junior B league’s Winter Classic Day, Jan. 1 at Richmond Arena.
Halen Cordoni, Alexandre Furlan and Tristan Tressel scored, while Jack Stradiotti recorded 30 saves for the shutout.
Brendan Murphy, Taylor Seganfreddo, Nicolas Georgeopoulos and Ryley Lanthier had assists for the Flames, who moved within six points of the second-place Pilots in the Harold Brittain Conference.
The Flames, with 36 points at 16-13-2-2, have a game in hand.
The Flames fell 3-2 in overtime to the Grandview Steelers on Monday. Furlan opened the scoring. Andrew Strelezki then tied the game for the Flames, scoring with 43 seconds left in the third period to force overtime.
Furlan and Strelezki both had assists, as well. Paul Tucek made 33 saves.
The Flames tied Grandview 2-2 at home on Boxing Day.
Rustler win Langley tourney
The Ridge Meadows Rustlers defeated Abbotsford 4-0 in the final of a bantam A2 Christmas hockey tournament in Langley, Dec. 27-29.
Ben Fontaine scored twice in the final. Jack Foster and Brayden Laity also scored in the gold-medal game. The Rustlers outshot Abby 32-19. Kai Koerner earned the shutout.
Jake Dubinsky was a standout in net as Ridge edged the Burnaby Minor Bulldogs 4-3 in the semi-finals.
Ridge opened the tournament with a 3-3 tie against the host Hawks. The Rustlers then tied the South Delta Storm 3-3, and defeated the Nanaimo Clippers 4-3.
