The Aldergrove Kodiaks have reason to celebrate this New Year’s Eve.
The Kodiaks snuffed out the visiting Ridge Meadows Flames 4-1 Monday at Aldergrove Arena, giving themselves some breathing room on top of the Pacific Junior Hockey League’s Harold Brittain Conference.
With a 15-9-2-5 record, the Kodiaks are three points clear of the second place Abbotsford Pilots (16-12-0-2), who are on a roll with three straight wins.
The Flames from Maple Ridge continue to struggle, meanwhile, having suffered their fifth straight defeat. They sit at the bottom of the conference with a 10-21 mark.
Ridge Meadows had a strong start, opening the scoring 2:53 into the first period on a goal from Cameron Alder.
The Kodiaks rallied to tie the game just past the mid-way point of the period on a power play marker off the stick of Eric Callegari.
The Kodiaks power play dominated the second period, with Aldergrove scoring three times with the man advantage to take control of the contest.
Brandon Dolby and Quinncy Leroux with a pair, back-to-back, scored power play goals for Aldergrove in the second frame.
Neither team could find the net in the third period.
The Kodiaks have a bit of a break before returning to action this Sunday, Jan. 4 when they visit the Burnaby Winter Club to take on the Grandview Steelers at 4 p.m.