The Eagles played host to what they are hoping is a tired team catching them at the end of a long three game road, so expectations are high with the players.

Surrey came up on the short end of the scoreboard two nights prior in  a hard fought O/T loss to the Chiefs who shocked the Eagles by rebounding from a two goal deficit, scoring three unanswered markers.

Wesley managed to get the late marker at 18:37 sending the game to O/T only to see the Chiefs make the trip east more enjoyable.

Merritt enters the game coming off a hard fought double O/T 3-3 tie with Alberni with a record of 7-10-2-1 through 20 games for  17 points, while the Eagles have a record of 9-8-2-1 also through 20 games.

One  difference, should we happen to see it again has the Eagles with 3 O/T wins while Merritt has managed only 1, so this could be the testing ground!

Recent player moves has the Eagles acquire the playing rights of Matthew Campese (October 27) from the West Kelowna Warriors for future considerations, but has yet to play a game in an Eagle uniform.

Merritt has also been active acquiring Victoria 19 year old goaltender Austin Roden (2-4-1) from Nanaimo October 28th in hopes of shoring up the back end.

Returning to the “Nest” in his old stomping grounds see’s Colten Gerlib suit up for the Centennials and he has one thing on his mind – payback for the trade.

Surrey was given a gift as Merritt was assessed a minor for Delay of Game due to a pre-game infraction of not being off the ice followed by the warm-up, which the Coaching staff for Merritt were frustrated with, but not at the officials, but rather his players.

With Surrey “thanking” the Centennials for taking the minor they got off to the early jump as Wesley kept the puck on side at the line cutting to the middle who hammered one over the net allowing Westgard to grab it off the rebound at the left side hash marks.

Cutting to the middle, he fed Stewart who sent a one-timer over the shoulder of Berger to give the Eagles an early lead 1:11 into the opening period.

Surrey continued rushing the net with Wesley cutting around Cocca who lost an edge allowing Wesley to cut behind the net using a tight turn putting the puck behind a shocked Berger who was on the opposite post, with no chance of getting over to block the shot.

The early jump was what the Eagles ordered but the lead would be short lived as they allowed Merritt back in the game managing to take a three goal lead to the dressing after one.

Immediately following the three Merritt goals within a span of just under 6 minutes the Eagles changed “tenders” pulling Tallarico in favour of Davidson who would also be tested throughout the rest of the contest.

Surrey outshot Merritt in the first by a slim margin of 14-12 and it was ironic that all goals in the first by both teams were on the power play, which seldom happens.

The second started strong with the only goal coming off the stick of Caige Sterzer who notched his first of the season on a solo effort from his blue-line.

He broke in on the left side to the face-off circle sending a bullet over the shoulder of Berger tying the game at three at 11:05 while being tripped up by Miller causing him to fall heavy into the boards, but in the end the goal was all that mattered.

His (Sterzer) goal was the only one in the middle period, but this period was more tight checking than the first with Davidson facing 11 and Berger seeing the rubber 12 times.

One might mention that Merritt played more of an undisciplined style game taking three minors in the first and three in the third giving the Eagles chance after chance, only to be denied points on the scoresheet.

Regardless of how aggressive the Eagles played and drove to the net, the Centennials were stingy shutting them down each and every time managing to get two of the three goals served up in the final period.

Merritt jumped out to a 5-3 lead by the 11:43 mark of the third, but given the explosive display of talent we have seen from the Eagles, it was no surprise to see Brushett notch his 7th of the season with Robert and Stewart doing all the dirty work from the right side.

This was an interesting goal from the broadcast booth as initially it was sent off the wall on the right side by Stewart who just threw it out front to which Berger was forced to cut the angle only losing the puck having it go in on the left side post where we were under the impression that Robert had tipped in the loose puck, but the officials obviously had a better view.

Merritt managed to pull out a 5-4 win sending them home with a record of 2 wins and one double O/T tie the previous night in Alberni.

The loss leaves the Eagles with 21 points focusing on the upcoming three games November 10th (Coquitlam), November 11th (at Coquitlam) and November 12th at home against Chilliwack at 4 pm.

The Eagles hit the ice for practice time in the upcoming week and will focus on game preparation in areas of concern by the Coaching staff.

Following the game it was and always is interesting to see the number of youngsters that stay for the post-game skate with the Eagles which they look forward to.

FORTISBC ENERGY PLAYER OF THE GAME

Ty Westgard (2 Assists)

Three Stars:

1st Henry Cleghorn (1 Goal/1 Assist)

2nd Caige Sterzer (1 Goal/1 Assist)

3rd Zach Zorn (1 Goal)

Merritt went 1-2 on the special teams, while the Eagles were 1-6 through 60 minutes.

Thanks to everyone for attending and special “thanks” to Mantar Bhandal for his candid second period intermission highlight package as well as calling the first couple of minutes in the third period.

Different perspective to the game for the fans and myself, Greg and the Eagles wish him and and Hockey Night in Punjabi continued success.