The Flames are off to a plodding start to their Pacific Junior Hockey League season.

The junior B Ridge Meadows Flames are 0-2 following a season-opening 3-1 loss to the Aldergrove Kodiaks last Wednesday and a 4-3 setback on home ice to the Mission City Outlaws on Friday.

Outlaws 4, Flames 3

Mark Ferguson's goal with 26 seconds to go in the second period lifted the Outlaws to a 4-3 lead over the Flames Friday at Planet Ice.

The goal turned out to be the winner because neither team could find the net during the third period.

The Flames let this one slip away. They led 3-0 after the first period on goals from Alexander Smith, Marco Ballarin (on a powerplay) and Adam Bartsch (shorthanded and unassisted).

The Outlaws came out firing in the second period, scoring the only four goals of the frame.

Adam Callegari with two, Cameron Bertsch, and Ferguson found the net for the visitors.

During the third period, the Flames pressed for the equalizer, outshooting the Outlaws 21-7, but weren't able to net the equalizer.

Jeffrey Smith took the loss in net for the Flames, stopping 30 of 34 shots.

Mission City puck-stopper William Latimer earned the victory, stopping 35 of 38 pucks shot his way.

Kodiaks 3, Flames 1

In Ridge Meadows' 2012/13 regular season opener at Aldergrove Arena, the host Kodiaks' Ryan Procyshyn netted the game winner 4: 06 into the third period.

Procyshyn's goal snapped a 1-1 tie. The Kodiaks added insurance at the 14: 16 mark of the final frame, when Daniel Higgs scored on an Aldergrove powerplay.

After a scoreless first period, Aldergrove's Stephen Ryan opened the scoring, shorthanded and unassisted, with 4: 01 to go in the middle frame.

The Flames scored their first goal of the season, off the stick of Matthew Bissett on a Ridge Meadows man advantage, with 29 seconds remaining in the second period.

Aldergrove owned the play in terms of shots on goal, throwing 53 pucks on net to Ridge Meadows' 30.

The Flames' Wesley McLeod had a strong game, blocking 50 of 53 Kodiaks' shots.

Ridge Meadows will look to register its first win of the season this Friday (Sept. 21), when the Flames host the Grandview Steelers at Planet Ice. Game time is 7: 30 p.m.

The Flames are looking to improve from last year, when they ended up fifth in the six-team PIJHL with a 11-32-0-1 mark.

The record was good enough to lift the Flames into the first round of the playoffs, where they fell in six hard-fought games to Aldergrove.

tlandreville@mrtimes.com