The Aldergrove Kodiaks are now tied with the Langley Knights for second place in the Harold Brittain conference after defeating the Port Moody Panthers 6-4 Dec. 3 at Aldergrove Arena.
It was the fourth consecutive win for the Kodiaks.
The Kodiaks sit at 26 points after 24 games (10-8-2-4), just two points behind the division-leading Abbotsford Pilots. The Mission Outlaws and Ridge Meadows Flames are not far behind at 20 and 16 points, respectively.
The Kodiaks were up 2-0 at the start of the second period with a pair of goals by Quinncy Leroux and Eric Callegari. Assists came from captain Aaron Markin and Brandon Dolby, and Jordan Funk and Cameron Davitt, respectively.
The Panthers scored early in the second but another pair from the Kodiaks put them up 4-1 at the start of the third. Scorers were Markin and Davitt (on a power play), with assists from Dolby and Leroux, and Wyatt Versluis and Joshua Poitras, respectively.
Kodiak Spencer McHaffie led off the third period scoring at 1:13, assisted by his twin brother Scott and Elvis Jansons, but the Panthers rallied with three goals to tighten the race to the finish.
However, Kodiaks' Jacob Cronin, assisted by Dryden Wust and Nolan Wallinger, scored their sixth goal to end the game at 6-4.
Kodiaks' keeper Griffin Baillie turned away 15 of the Panthers' 19 shots on net, while the Kodiaks more than doubled the shots on net with 42 that night. First and second stars were Kodiaks' Markin and Davitt.
The Kodiaks play the Pilots Friday night, Dec. 5 at MSA Arena and host the Knights on Dec. 10 at Aldergrove Arena, puck drop at 7:15 p.m.
Games set for the remainder of the month leading up to Christmas break are: Dec. 13 away at Panthers; Dec. 17 at home versus North Vancouver Wolf Pack; Dec. 18 away at Knights; and Dec, 23 away at Delta Ice Hawks. The Kodiaks then host the Flames on Monday, Dec. 29 at Aldergrove Arena, puck drop at 7:15 p.m.
The regular season wraps up in the middle of February, with playoffs to follow.
Aldergrove Kodiaks captain Aaron Markin takes advantage of the scramble in front of the Port Moody Panthers' net to score in the second period Dec. 3 at Aldergrove Arena. (Bob Hunt photo)