The Aldergrove Kodiaks wrapped up their regular season with a 3-1 victory over the Richmond Sockeyes, Feb. 10 at Aldergrove Arena.
The win caps their PJHL season with 51 points and 24 wins in 44 games, and third place in the Harold Brittain conference.
The first round of playoffs begins next week, with the first home game on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at Aldergrove Arena. Their opponents will either be the Mission Outlaws or the Abbotsford Pilots, who play their deciding game against each other on Saturday.
It was Kyle Bosko's night to shine as the Kodiak forward notched a deciding pair of goals in the third period.
The Sockeyes were up 1-0 at the start of the third but three minutes into the period Bosko scored the tying goal, with assists from affiliate Colin McCarthy and Matt Oliver.
At 14:14 Kodiak captain Spencer Unger scored on one of the team's seven power plays to put the Kodiaks up 2-1. Assists came from Cameron Davitt and Eric Callegari.
Then in the dying minute as the Sockeyes pulled goalie Kurt Russell for a man-advantage Kodiaks Callegari and affiliate Brady Buckham fed the puck to Bosko for the deciding empty-netter.
The game's first star went to Bosko, and the second star to Unger.
The Sockeyes outshot the Kodiaks 30-28, with Kodiak keeper Cole Forbes turning aside all but one shot on his goal.
The Kodiaks are the first team to finish their 44-game season in the league, with the nine other teams set to complete regular play this week. Aldergrove is third in the Harold Brittain conference with 51 points, 12 points ahead of fourth place Ridge Meadows Flames. However, while Mission is in first with 62 points Abbotsford is close behind at 60 and could still move ahead of the Outlaws in the two games left in the Pilots' season. Langley Knights are mired at 10 points and out of contention for this year's playoffs.
In the Tom Shaw conference North Vancouver Wolf Pack are clear leaders with 66 points, Grandview follows at 50, Richmond at 46, Delta at 44, and Port Moody is out of the playoffs with 25 points.
Kodiak Edvins Jansons tangles with Richmond Sockeyes Noah Wozney in a 3-1 win for Aldergrove, Feb. 10.
Kodiak Kyle Bosko scored twice on Richmond Sockeyes in a 3-1 win for Aldergrove, Feb. 10.
Kodiak Elijah Vilio at Richmond Sockeyes netminder Kurt Russell in a 3-1 win for Aldergrove, Feb. 10.
Kodiak Brandon Dolby readies for puck at Richmond Sockeyes Kurt Russell's net in a 3-1 win for Aldergrove, Feb. 10.
Kodiak Eric Callegari tangles with Richmond Sockeyes Jordan Andrews in a 3-1 win for Aldergrove, Feb. 10.