The Aldergrove Kodiaks’ stunning 8-0 loss to the Mission City Outlaws in Sunday’s game four of their best-of-seven playoff series turned out to be just a blip.
That’s because the Kodiaks showed Wednesday exactly why they were the best team in the Pacific Junior Hockey League during the regular season.
Playing on home ice at Aldergrove Arena, the Kodiaks built leads of 3-0, 4-1, and 5-2 en route to a 7-4 victory.
The win gave the Kodiaks a 4-1 series victory over the defending PJHL playoff champion Outlaws.
The Aldergrove junior Bs built up a commanding 3-0 series lead before the Outlaws won game four in Mission to stay alive.
But there was no denying the Kodiaks in game five.
The Kodiaks were the favourites going into the Harold Brittain Conference semifinal match-up, having racked up a league-best 36-7 record during the regular season.
The Outlaws finished fourth in the Harold Brittain with an 18-22-0-4 mark.
In the series deciding game, Quinncy Leroux led the Kodiaks’ offence with two goals and an assist. In a balanced attack, five other Kodiak players found the net including Elijah Vilio, Cameron Davitt, Davin Padgham, Matt Oliver, and Jacob De Waal.
The Kodiaks controlled the play, outshooting the Outlaws 42-18.
Kodiaks goaltender Dawson Rodin stopped 14 of 18 shots fired his way.
Now, the Kodiaks move on to the Harold Brittain Conference final.
They are awaiting the winner of the Ridge Meadows Flames/Abbotsford Pilots match-up. The Flames lead that series 2-1. Those teams meet in game four of the series Friday at Abbotsford’s MSA Arena.
Teams battling it out in the Tom Shaw Conference playoffs are the Grandview Steelers versus the Richmond Sockeyes, and the Delta Ice Hawks taking on the North Van Wolf Pack.