A hat trick from Aldergrove Kodiaks' league leading scorer Stephen Ryan helped propel his team to their sixth straight win and a top spot in the Junior B hockey league Wednesday night.
When the dust had settled from a wild third period the Aldergrove Kodiaks had an 8-6 victory over the Grandview Steelers. The game was played Nov. 27 at the Aldergrove Arena.
The Kodiaks lead the PJHL's Harold Brittain Conference with a record of 16-4-02 and 34 points, three points clear of the second-place Abbotsford Pilots.
Aldergrove is also just two points back of the Delta Ice Hawks, who lead the junior B hockey league with 36 points. The Kodiaks do have a pair of games in hand, however.
The two teams play in Aldergrove on Dec. 4.
In the win over the Steelers, Stephen Ryan scored twice in the opening period for a 2-0 Kodiaks lead.
Grandview's Timothy Chow and Mitchell Steinke tallied 19 seconds apart in the second to tie the game, but Kenny Prato and Adam Callegari restored the two-goal advantage prior to intermission.
And that set the stage for a frantic final 20 minutes in which each team scored four times.
Quinncy Leroux, Ryan, Spencer McHaffie and Callegari tallied for the home side while Christopher Seto with a pair, and Chow and Quinn Lenihan responded for the Steelers.
Aldergrove outshot the Steelers 37-27 and scored on three of eight power plays, while the Steelers scored on one of three.
Jordan Liem made 21 saves for the victory while Ryan (three goals, one assist) led the attack and earned game first star. Kodi Schwarz finished with three assists. Joshua Cronin had a pair of assists and earned game third star, while second star went to Seto.
The Kodiaks now have a week off, until Delta Ice Hawks come calling at Aldergrove Arena, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 7:15 p.m. puck drop. The Kodiaks have two away games next week, versus Mission City Outlaws, Dec. 5 and Grandview Steelers, Dec. 8, before they host North Delta Devils, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 7:15 p.m.
Aldergrove Kodiaks' Stephen Ryan (#19) scored a hat-trick in the team's 8-6 win over the Grandview Steelers, Wednesday, Nov. 27 at Aldergrove Arena. Ryan's three goals and assist that night pushed him to 43 points this season, the league's top scorer. -HARRY HUNT PHOTO
Kodiaks get Christmas Spirit
The Kodiaks team of owners, staff, players and volunteers invite their fans to join them in helping the Aldergrove Food Bank and Christmas Bureau with a food drive and teddy bear toss in December.
The teddy bear toss will be at the Dec. 18 home game versus cross-town rivals Abbotsford Pilots. Fans are asked to bring a teddy bear or other stuffed critter, unwrapped but in a plastic bag to the game. Then when the Kodiaks score their first goal fans simply throw the stuffed animals onto the ice surface. The Kodiaks will pick up the stuffed animals and deliver them to the Christmas Bureau for distribution.
In addition, at the Dec. 4, 11 and 18 home games everyone who brings a non-perishable food item for donation to the Food Bank will receive $1 off regular admission price. This "Fill the Net" promotion will have a goal set up for fans to put their donations, which will be delivered to the Food Bank for distribution.
The Kodiaks thank all their fans for helping them to support the community and making someone's Christmas merrier.