Nail Bitter To The End - SportsWave Broadcasting

Coming off the impressive O/T win two nights prior was more of a motivation tool for the team than anything else simply knowing that they were not going to be “pushed around or intimidated” by any team.

The start of this game wasn’t the normal start that most teams have with the traditional face-off, well maybe it was, but this one was different.

All sports are huge to the Eagles organization, but this one had a different tone to it as they welcomed home the White Rock All-Star’s.

This group of young players had the distinction of winning and winning and eventually having the luxury of playing at the Little League World Series in Williamsport and while not coming home with a trophy, they come home winners in all sense of the word.

Not only a trip of a life-time, but doing something that some players only dream of and quite possibly one day you might see one of the boy’s in the pro’s.

So once the ceremonies were officially over and it should be mentioned that the team received a “standing ovation” from the over 800 on hand taking in the game.

The start wasn’t what the Eagles liked but they never quit and had chance after chance only to have the door closed by Express netminder Reid Cooper who faced 11 shots in the first stopping all thrown his way.

Eagles “tender” Daniel Davidson was coming off a strong game and faced only 9 in the first allowing only one to get past him at the 16:35 mark of the period off the stick of former Delta Ice Hawk Sam Kozlowski.

Both teams had numerous chances with the fans being entertained to not only a fast paced game, but one that was extremely entertaining with only one minor in the period.

Sporting a “new look” line-up off Wesley, Westgard and strong defensive play of Owen Norton the Eagles managed to set up Wesley who got his second of the season at 4:22 with helpers going to Westgard and Norton.

The second saw Coquitlam take the brunt of penalties grabbing four minors to Surrey’s one minor while the Eagles hammered 19 shots at Cooper while Davidson faced 8.

Entering the third saw both teams were “hungry” for a victory as the Express were looking for win number one in game one, while the Eagles were looking for their first regular season victory in only their second game of the season.

Entertaining the fans, while playing fast paced hockey is what the fans have come to expect from the Eagles and given the roster changes this season, the fans are in for a treat from the opening puck drop to the final whistle.

The Eagles continued to dominate play in all areas of the ice during the third as Wesley notched his second of the game and third of the season taking a pass from Westgard and Steward at 9:57 putting the Eagles up by a narrow margin of 2-1.

The Express continued to press and it wasn’t until the 17:37 mark of the third that Bosa was sent in from Sanda and Schulting tying the game at two.

The third saw the Express (again) rest in the “sin-bin” taking three minors to the Eagles two with both “tenders” being tested time and time again.

Shots in the third were more respectable if you’re an Express fan as they allowed the Eagles to throw only 10 on Cooper while the Express could only throw 9 at Davidson.

With the period winding down, both teams knew it would either be a miracle for a goal or a lucky bounce that might just win the game.

Neither a lucky bounce or a goal happened in the dying stages of the third and both teams could sense that they were headed to O/T.

While the fans ponder the outcome both coaches were busy drawing up plays and no one left the building and with over 800 in the stands, it was anyone’s game to win.

Heading to four on four O/T means more open ice and this naturally gave both teams more than one chance but the “tenders” played stellar stopping everything thrown at them.

O/T number two was far more wide open than the first and three on three on Olympic Ice means speed, fast break-outs and end to end rushes with the fans being more vocal than in the first O/T.

Regardless of the chances during all five periods the game ended in a 2-2 tie as Cooper faced only four shots in both O/T periods, while Davidson stopped 7 pieces of rubber.

Following the game I had a chance to chat with several spectators who stay around for the Sunday Family skate following all Sunday home games and they are thrilled with the play of the Eagles team this season, simply saying “we hope they can keep it going and for a long time too.”

BCHL FortisBC Energy Player of the game was Ty Westgard, who played solid in both ends of the ice setting up both goals by Wesley.

While it’s early in the season it’s clear that both clubs need additional work on the Power Play as Coquitlam were 0-4, while the Eagles finished 1-8.

Three Stars: