The BCHL once again hosts the annual Bauer Showcase at the Chilliwack Prospera Centre will all teams playing two games on back to back days.
The exception to the rule are the lower mainland teams who don’t necessarily have to play back to back games, which is a benefit to all three clubs.
The Surrey Eagles played their first game Thursday morning at 10 against the Penticton Vees followed by their game two Saturday at four against the Vernon Vipers.
The Penticton club is full of players that have some form of NHL association as far as family members goes and in this case the Eagles were in tough.
Penticton jumped out to an early goal 22 seconds in that saw the Eagles dig deep, but simply unable to rebound from the early marker, but it wasn’t without trying.
The Vee’s managed to get the second of the period at the 10:53 mark while out-shooting the Eagles by a narrow 10-9 margin that saw Bailey stand tall facing many quality shots that were turned aside.
The second saw the teams become stingy in the goal department as each “tender” keep their opposition off the score-sheet, keeping it a 2-0 game for the Vee’s.
Eric Linell got his 5th of the season early in the third at 1:50 narrowing the margin to a 2-1 score that saw the Eagles continue to press but unable to penetrate the tough defensive play of the Vee’s.
The Vee’s Silye notched a pair giving the Vee’s a 4-1 lead never looking back stealing the victory keeping the Eagles winless through four games and being outscored by a 25-14 margin.
Rebounding isn’t an easy task, but you knew that it was just a matter of time before the Eagles managed their first victory of the season, despite the scores.
The Eagles played game two of the Bauer BCHL Showcase against the Vernon Vipers in a matinee match-up Saturday at 4 ever so hopeful of pulling off their first win on the season, starting the ball rolling in the right direction.
Surrey started Daniel Davidson between the pipes, just for a change and get him some added minutes of playing time, which in some cases works.
The Eagles played like a grizzly looking for food after a long winter’s rest forcing the Vipers to shoot from outside and relying on Davidson to keep goals to a minimum.
Vernon sent a shot that was aiming to the corner but in the process of trying for a deflection it took a strange bounce off Hayles stick ending up in the bottom right corner giving the Vipers a 1-0 lead at 11:47 of the opening period.
Both teams had several chances in both the first and second only to have the Vipers out shoot Surrey by a 25-16 margin.
The Vipers ran into penalty trouble giving the Eagles numerous opportunities only to be turned aside by a “stingy” Aiden Porter, who at times resembling (for those old enough to remember) Gumby.
The Eagles focus entering the third was to outplay the Vipers forcing turnover after turnover, while playing a more tight-checking game in both ends of the ice.
Surrey’s top line saw Stevenson notch his first of the season, trying the game at one as the season was wrapping up at the 18:07 mark after being set up from both Westgard and Linell.
Both teams pressed but in the dying minute Eagles “D-man” Mack Gray was assessed a minor for cross checking while behind his net setting up a Vipers PP.
Vernon called a T/O drawing up a plan giving them a chance, but the stingy play of the PK as well as Davidson sent the game to O/T that is normally three on three.
With the Eagles on the PK the fans were entertained as the teams played four on three, until the minor expired then they would play four on four until the first stoppage.
Gray finished his minor and was obviously well rested as he came out of the box jumping on a loose puck dumping it into the right corner in the Vipers zone..
The first one in was Stevenson who was fighting off Vipers Andres who force him to the outside, then left him alone.
Stevenson pressed and drove to the net pulling the puck out front managing to slide it to the left side, beating a shocked Vipers tender giving the Eagles their first victory of the season.
It was like Christmas came early for the Eagles who exploded off the bench to not only embrace Stevenson, but also Davidson.
For the Eagles the win is long overdue and given the talent the Eagles have assembled and at this stage of the season it’s all about team chemistry and getting the pieces to fall in place.
Patience is a virtue and this is only the start for the Eagles.
FortisBC Energy Player of the Game
Braydon Shaw
Three Stars:
1st Chase Stevenson (2 Goals)
2nd Daniel Davidson (SA 36/SV 35)
3rd Aiden Porter (SA 22/SV 20)
Surrey’s next game is September 26th at 7 pm at the Porier Sports & Leisure Centre
Be sure to join us Friday September 28th for the Eagles tribute game to the Humboldt Broncos as the Eagles retire the #10 Jersey for Jaxon Joseph, former Surrey Eagle.
