Two wins on home ice last weekend allowed the Valley West Hawks to tighten their hold on a B.C. Hockey Major Midget League (MML) playoff position.
The Hawks defeated the Thompson Blazers in a two-game set, improving to 13-9 (won-lost) on the season.
In fifth place in the 13-team MML, Valley West is now six points clear of the North Island Silvertips and Fraser Valley Bruins, who are tied for seventh place. Six teams will qualify for the playoffs.
Three powerplay goals helped the Hawks erase a 4-2 deficit after 40 minutes in Saturday’s 5-4 win at the Langley Sportsplex.
Mitchell Friesen of Surrey and Langley’s Daniell Lange led the Hawks attack with two goals and an assist each. Matthew Cox of White Rock scored once.
In Sunday morning’s rematch at the Surrey Sports and Leisure Complex, Valley West again trailed after two periods, but tallied six times in the third period for a 9-5 victory.
Surrey’s Ram Brar, who had two assists in Saturday’s win, paced the Hawks with a pair of goals and two helpers. White Rock’s Sam Chatterly also scored twice and added an assist. Lange, Latrell Charleson (Surrey), Cox and Josh Pollock (Langley) notched one goal each. Langley defenceman Jordan Klimek collected three assists, with brother Justin and Surrey skaters Rhett Willcox and Jerret Smith earning two each.
Valley West heads to Kelowna next weekend for two games with the Okanagan Rockets, who are in sixth place, three points back of the Hawks.