Ridge Meadows Flames have advanced to the championship finals and will be taking on the Langley Trappers in the next best of seven series.
The Flames eliminated the Delta Ice Hawks by a score of 3-0 on home ice on Friday, March 20, in game five of the series.
“It was a very hard fought series. We won it five games, but you know, two games is was overtime, game five was very close,” said Flames GM Derek Bedard.
Bedard noted that playoff hockey is a different style of play and is looking forward to the championship series against the Langley Trappers which kicks off on Friday night at Cam Neely Arena.
Langley, he said, is a very hard working team, who play a hard game.
“They play a heavy game, they finish checks, they’re getting really good goal-tending,” said Bedard, who noted it will be important for the Flames to match the intensity of The Trappers and put their work boots on everyday.
“Hard work is going to be very important here in the next series,” he said.
This is the fourth year in a row The Flames have made it to the championships.
“Which is pretty unprecedented,” said Bedard.
They lost the first year, and won the next two and Bedard is hoping to keep rolling in the same direction with a team who is able to stick to their identity, embrace the moment, enjoy the crowd, enjoy the opportunity, and, at the same time keep their work ethic high.
The Flames will enjoy home ice for the first two games of the series before it makes its way to the George Preston Arena in Langley.
Puck drops on the series at 7:30 p.m., March 27, at 23588 Jim Robson Way, Maple Ridge.