Skip to content

Third-period letdowns cost Thunderbirds

Fraser Valley major midget team lead in one game, tied in the other but only comes home with one point out of four

The Fraser Valley Thunderbirds let a 4-1 third-period lead slip away, settling for a 4-4 tie.

The Thunderbirds were battling the Okanagan Rockets on Saturday at the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League showcase weekend held at the Richmond Oval.

And when the teams stepped on the ice for the rematch on Sunday, the Rockets carried over the momentum from game one to skate away with a 6-3 victory.

The game was tied at three in the third period before the Rockets closed things out with three goals in the final 5:38, including an empty-netter.

The results leave Fraser Valley with a record of 1-2-1.

In the opener, Zac McKee tallied twice while Baxter Anderson and Kyle Davis had the other goals.

Jamie Housch and Matthew Dyck each had a pair of assists.

Jordan Naylor allowed four goals in the loss with the Rockets striking for the final two goals nine seconds apart.

Game two saw Anderson tally for the second straight game while Jonathan Stein and Jake Mulder had the other goals.

Jonathan Rees had a pair of assists.

Paul Tucek got the call in net, allowing five goals.

The Thunderbirds have a road game on Saturday at Coquitlam's Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre against the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs.

The teams complete the home-and-home series on Sunday morning as the Thunderbirds play their first home game at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre.