The Port Moody Panthers wrapped up their Pacific Junior Hockey League season with a spirited effort but still came up short against the Richmond Sockeyes on Saturday night.
Richmond, a powerhouse team in the league with 32 wins, found themselves down 2-0 midway through the first period.
Cats forward Wesley Howerton opened the scoring for the home team after burying a pass from Mark Fletcher before Fletcher potted the team's second of the night three minutes later.
But being down by two goals was not enough to rattle the Sockeyes, who have the lowest number of goals against in the PJHL.
The visitors took advantage of a power play opportunity midway through the first to tie the game, with Jacob Wozney and Daniel Oakley scoring goals 25 seconds apart.
The quick turnaround put the Cats on their heels, but they were able to escape the opening frame with a 2-2 tie.
Port Moody's offence appeared to run out of steam in the second, when the Sockeyes snagged the go-ahead goal off the stick of Troy Kaczynski.
Kyle Hoffmann grabbed an insurance marker for the visitors in the third period before Port Moody's Howerton was able to find the back of the net for his second of the night.
With the Cats threatening to even the score in the final minutes, Richmond put up a strong defensive push to maintain the lead.
When the final buzzer finally sounded Port Moody was down 4-2.
Richmond player Mac Colasimone was named first star of the game for his two assists while Howerton's two-goal performance earned him second star honours.
Sockeyes forward Oakley was the third star of the match.
Cats goalie Spencer Kozlowski had a busy night, turning away 35 of the 39 shots he faced, while Richmond net minder Kurt Russell stopped 20 of 23.
The Panthers had officially been eliminated from playoff contention last month and had been playing out the schedule.
The club finishes the season on a 19-game losing skid with a final record of 6-35-0-3 record. The squad scored 115 goals in its 44 matches and allowed 215 goals for a 100 goal differential.
@GMcKennaTC
