The Surrey Eagles had a tough test against the Wenatchee Wild as they made their first regulation visit to the South Surrey Arena. However, the location would not matter for the visiting team, winning by a score of 8-0 for the second time this year against the Eagles.
Eagles netminder Forbes Ploszaj stood between the pipes the entire game stopping 32 of 41 shots, while the Wild’s Chase Perry stopped all 18 shots from Surrey to record his third shutout of the year.
The Eagles started the game as always with aggressive play around the boards, but were only limited to four shots in the first period. Wenatchee captain Mike Coyne would net his sixth of the season for the game’s opening goal with the assist from August Von Ungern, who would score his own goal five seconds later. The visiting team led 2-0 after the opening 20 minutes of play.
Surrey would go to the two-man advantage early in the second period and were unable to produce. The Wild’s Kyle Stephan took advantage scoring shorthanded on a breakaway one second after the 5-on-3 expired for his 10th on the year. Brendan Harris would then score on the power-play from Troy Conzo and Joesph Drabin, which was followed four minutes later by Dakota Raabe’s ninth of the season from rookie Brandon Puricelli. John Wesley would take one last chance for the Eagles before the period was over, but the Wild held on to their 5-0 lead.
The Wenatchee Wild took full control of the final frame scoring in the same fashion as they did in the second period. A short-handed goal on the breakaway from Von Ungern for his third point of the evening; a power-play goal from Matt Baker for his fifth of the year nearly five minutes later, and a regulation netter by Logan Milliken with 1:45 left to go. The Surrey Eagles lost 8-0 for their 12th straight loss of the season.
Surrey’s record drops to 4-21, while Wenatchee takes over first place in the Mainland Division with a record of 16-6-2-2.
Wenatchee swept the three stars of the game; August Von Ungern, Chase Perry, and Brendan Harris went first, second, and third respectively.
Darren Hards once again proved why he is most of the most aggressive players in the BCHL, earning is league-leading seventh Fortis BC Energy Player of the Game.
The Eagles will now travel to Merritt mid-week to play the Centennials at the Nicola Valley Arena. They’ll return to the nest on Friday night to take on the West Kelowna Warriors for the first time this season; opening face-off is set for 7PM.
For more information on the Surrey Eagles Hockey Club, please visit surreyeagles.ca or call (604) 531-GOAL (4625).
