30 Games – 37 Nights

The BCHL lower mainland Pod played it’s final game on Mothers Day at Burnaby 8-rinks as many know it that saw the Surrey Eagles defeat the Coquitlam Express by a commanding 5-1 win.

The game started out with lots of tape to tape passes in what many called a no-nothing game for the Eagles considering that they had first place wrapped-up in the shortened Covid season.

Entering the game the Eagles were 16-2-0-1 while the Express were 6-10-3-0 finishing third behind Powell River Kings who had left for the Island the day prior.

Both teams had graduating players on the roster that saw a pre-game ceremony recognizing them for their time spend in the BCHL developing their skills in hopes of taking them to a new level of the game.

The Eagles put in solid work in the opening twenty minutes managing to pressure the Express forcing their “D” to be contained in their zone with several chances testing Express “keeper” Dylan Kruss.

The game remained scoreless until the final 7 minutes of the opening period that saw Eagles Jimmy Darby open the scoring after taking a three-way passing play from Schovanek and Santa Jauna at 13:32. 

Christian Fitzgerald took a cross ice pass from Holden Cardinal a short 32 seconds later beating Kruss giving the Eagles a 2-0 lead as the teams went to intermission. 

Shots after one saw the Eagles outshoot the Express by a 9-4 advantage with the officials forced to assess one minor to Express ”tender” Dylan Kruss for tripping.

The Eagles continued to pressure the Express throwing 16 shots at Kruss that saw  Kushniryk give the Eagles their third of the game at 9:37 while on the PP.

As if three wasn’t enough the Eagles Bliss got his third of the season also on the PP at 17:25 with Fitzgerald (20) and Katzalay (19) taking a 4-0 lead to the third. 

The second was a penalty filled period that saw the Express  take five minors, a Major, one Misconduct and the Game Misconduct which is automatic with a Fighting Major.

The second saw the Eagles assessed two minors, one double minor for Spearing, one Major plus the automatic Game Misconduct through 40 minutes.

The fisticuffs continued only due to the fact that the Express were getting hammered in all areas of the ice that allowed Santa Juana (9) to get a shorthanded goal at 5:08 putting Surrey in full control of a sure fire victory.

The third was not just testy, it was what one could call foolish hockey which is something that the BCHL simply does not tolerate.

As one might with the Express finishing third overall in a three series Pod it was clear that losing was getting the better of them forcing the officials to earn their pay.

The Eagles were assessed one Major, two Fights and three Game Misconducts while the Express were assessed two Majors, two Misconducts and three Game Misconducts,

The Express finally got on the scoreboard with 5:33 left in regulation time that saw Fraser (4) take a cross-ice pass from Oakley (13) breaking the goose-egg frustrating the Eagles “tender” Thomas Scarfone.

 Final shots saw the Eagles outshoot the Express by a 32-18 tally that saw a class move by the Express who replaced Dylan Kruss with Jaden Little who was playing in his last BCHL game.

If you look in the standings this is not indicated on the stats page also failing to mention that he started with the Creston Valley Thunder Cats in the KIJHL.

Graduating Players recognized at the start are as follows:

Coquitlam

• Colton Kovich 
• Will Dow-Kenny 
• Jaden Little
• Danny Pearson
• Sam Marit. 

Surrey Eagles 

• Will Kushniryk 
• Holden Katzalay 
• Tyson McLean 
• Jacob Piller
• Kieran O’Hearn 
• Brett Bliss