With an emphatic 8-1 win on Friday night, the Ridge Meadows Flames advanced to the Stonehouse Cup semi-finals.
The two-time Pacific Junior Hockey League champs finished off the Port Coquitlam Trailblazers Friday at Cam Neely Arena, winning their opening Junior A playoff series in five games.
The next best-of-seven series starts on Tuesday night, March 10, when they host the Delta Ice Hawks.
Coach Brent Hughes said a loss in the fourth game of the series last Tuesday was a good wake-up call for the Flames.
“We got a little too confident – like it didn’t matter what we’d do, we’d win,” he said. “Sometimes a loss is good for your hockey team.”
They dominated the win in game five. Special teams played a huge part in Friday’s game, as the Ridge power play went six-for-10, while they held PoCo’s to no goals on 11 chances.
The Flames had a 6-0 lead after two periods, with five power-play goals.
Team captain Zack Lagrange was the game’s first star with three goals and an assist; big forward Jonah Power Smith was second star with four goals; and goaltender Matthew Candusso was the best penalty killer, as he stopped 36 of 37 shots, and was named the third star.
Hughes said Candusso deserved his second shutout of the series, as the only goal Friday came on a Flame turnover gaff that left the Trailblazers with an empty netter.
Lagrange has 17 points in five games to lead the conference in playoff scoring, and is coming off an impressive series, said Hughes.
He also singled out the play of Erik Sollied, as the veteran defenceman has 13 points and leads the PJHL in playoff scoring.
“He’s been outstanding for us defensively and offensively, on our power play,” said the coach. “He’s been a great addition to our team.”
The next series should be closer. The Flames beat Delta in six of seven this season, but four were one-goal victories, with two in overtime.
It’s the day before, the day before!
Let’s GOOOOOOO!#Ploffspic.twitter.com/2meV9QCSsr
— Ridge Meadows Flames (@flamesjunior) March 8, 2026
Hughes said Delta had a slow start to this year’s campaign, but improved dramatically over the second half of the regular season. They’re a great transition team, fast through the neutral zone, and quickly create offence off turnovers.
They are led in scoring by Grady Lenton, who has 15 points in five games, and scored 11 goals.
“He’s a guy we have to key on, and watch,” said Hughes.
“It should be a great series,” said Hughes, adding that keys for his club are to keep the power play humming, and get depth scoring.
He can put together three dangerous offensive lines, and noted “it’s huge when you get that secondary scoring.”
The first two games, Tuesday and Friday, will be in Maple Ridge, at 7:30 p.m.
Hughes said the Flames played in front of a great crowd for Friday night’s series clincher.