Clayton Jardine scored just 38 seconds after the opening face-off to get the offence rolling as the Camrose Kodiaks locked up a spot in Saturday’s semifinals following a 4-2 victory over the Portage Terriers on Tuesday night.
Four players scored goals and eight had at least a point for the Kodiaks, who advanced to the final four at the National Junior A Championship for the sixth time in as many all-time appearances.
Landon Kadatz, Ben Gallacher and Kenny Bradley had the other goals for Camrose (2-1), which outshot the Terriers 25-22, including 13-4 in the third period. Dalyn Flette, who made 20 saves in the Kodiaks goal, was at his best in the second period, when the Terriers held a 12-5 advantage in shots but went from a 1-0 deficit to a 3-0 hole.
Tanner Waldvogel and Mike Gemmill scored the goals for Portage (1-2), which lost its second in a row in the final game of a three-games-in-three-nights stretch. Waldvogel’s goal gives him a tournament-leading five points (two goals, three assists) in three games.
Camrose wraps up its preliminary round on Wednesday night when it faces Pembroke (7:30 p.m. MT), while Portage will enjoy its first off-day since Saturday before concluding preliminary play against Wellington on Thursday afternoon (3:30 p.m. MT).
