Kodiaks ground Pilots, through to PJHL finals

The Aldergrove Kodiaks celebrate a goal while Abbotsford Pilots goaltender Aaron Oakley fishes the puck out of the back of the net at MSA Arena on March 12. The Kodiaks won 4-1 to eliminate the Pilots four games to one in the best-of-seven playoff series.

John Morrow/Black Press

News For You  

• B.C. Mayors’ meeting produces list of needs
• Carrie Underwood performs in Abbotsford
• Roundabout on time and on budget
• Enter the Dragons’ Den
• Colwood hosts hooks, crosses, jabs of boxing competition

Share this story

Tweet

The Aldergrove Kodiaks will play for the Pacific Junior Hockey League championship after eliminating the Abbotsford Pilots.

The Kodiaks’ Spencer McHaffie scored on the first shift on Tuesday night at Abbotsford’s MSA Arena and Aldergrove never looked back, winning game five 4-1 to eliminate the higher-seeded Pilots.

The Kodiaks were leading 1-0 when they struck for a pair of power-play goals 40 seconds apart in the final 64 seconds of the first period.

Ryan Simpson and Scott McHaffie netted the goals, which effectively put the game out of reach.

Spencer McHaffie scored his second of the night on another power play early in the second.

Abbotsford’s Brandon Daase ruined Mark Menicucci’s shutout bid with a power-play goal with seven minutes to play.

Aldergrove, which finished nine points behind Abbotsford for first place in the Harold Brittain Conference during the regular season, won the final four games of the best-of-seven series.

The Pilots had won game one 8-1 and had third-period leads in both games three and four.

Included in the four wins were a pair of double overtime victories for the Kodiaks in both games three and four.

The Kodiaks will play either the Richmond Sockeyes or the Delta Ice Hawks for the PJHL championship. Richmond leads the series 3-1 with game five set for tonight (Thursday).