Following a couple of day’s rest, the Eagles set their sights on having a strong finish to the otherwise poor month for grabbing points from the opposition.

Entering the game saw the Eagles trailing Nanaimo by a 9 points and that could be the best way to describe the overall outcome of the game.

Using the song 9 to 5 recorded in 1980 by Country Music Icon Dolly Parton, with appearances from Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin could either mean that it’s essential to get a solid 60 minutes work from all players from the opening face-off, which is exactly what they got.

Keelan Williams returning between the pipes got the call for the Eagles, while the Clippers went with Evan DeBrouwer, with the end result seeing the team play not only exciting, but entertaining hockey for the fans in attendance.

Surrey started out with a “bang” capitalizing on an early zone rush 26 seconds in with Burgart getting his 16th of the season set up from Davidson and Babichuk jumping out to the quick start they wanted.

The Eagles continued to press managing to get another one past DeBrouwer at 10:35 of the period with Calder getting his first on the night putting Surrey up 2-0 after one.

The first could be best described as “tame” with only three minors being assessed as the Clippers outshot the Eagles 11-9 heading to the dressing room.

Not contented in trailing by two Nanaimo’s Ben Solin got the Clippers within one after taking a cross pass from Creamer at 1:05 making it a 2-1 game.

Eagles Dario Piva got his 4th of the season at 4:44 with Robert and Gerlib getting the assist and putting the Eagles in the driver’s seat for the remainder of the game.

Clippers Finner got one back at 13:27 pulling them within one, but Eagles Calder notched his second of the night and 18th of the season at 14:49 followed by another Eagle marker 17 seconds later with Burgart notching his 17th of the season.

The second saw Surrey out-shoot the Clippers by a 12-6 margin pulling away with a 5-2 score with the officials having to dish out 8 penalties, which Nanaimo held claim on.

Discipline would be the name of the game for the third and being aggressive never hurt any team and in this contest the Eagles outshot the Clippers by a 4-3 tally.

As with most games a small scrum ensued 57 seconds at the start of the third in which Blanchard and Gerlib were assessed penalty time.

Gerlib was sent off for a Minor (Blow to Head), Minor for Roughing and the  Automatic Misconduct, while Blanchard was assessed a minor for “Chirping”, which is better known as Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

With teams trading goals, it was Ashton Calder that had the last laugh with him getting his third of the game (19th of the season) giving the Eagles a comfortable lead, never having to look back.

As close as the Clippers got on the board, the Eagles responded and never relinquished the lead at one point doubling up on the scoreboard.

Nanaimo pulled DeBrouwer with 1:58 remaining in the third looking at getting closer, but it was Eagles Dario Piva sending one in the empty net at 18:31 giving the Eagles a 8-5 lead.

DeBrouwer went back in for the face-off, but was again pulled for the extra attacker, but this time it was Paul McAvoy notching his 16th of the season, also in the empty net giving the Eagles the 9-5 victory.

The third saw a plethora of goals with the Eagles outshooting the Clippers by a 4-3 margin, but the end result seemed ironic with both “tenders” being credited with 29 shots.

FortisBC Player of the game was Eagles forward Dario Piva, with 2 goals and1 assist, while Calder was the game’s first star with three goals.

Eagles Cory Babichuk (1 goal/3 assists) was the game’s second star, while Desi Burgart (2 goals) was the game’s third star.

Unsung game star for my money was Eagles “Tender” Keelan Williams, who recently returned following a long injury and while tested from various areas of the ice, ha his angles off by inches.

Eagles next face Prince George Spruce Kings February 2nd at 6:30, then hit the road for a pair of games in Wenatchee February 3rd and 4th.

Winning means playing 60 minutes and not taking a shift off and from this point forward, it full steam ahead.

Oh yea – the song was also performed by Alvin and the Chipmunks in their 1982 Album “The Chipmunks Go To Hollywood”