SURREY — The Eagles look to turn an early-season slump around this weekend as Nanaimo and Langley make their first visits to the South Surrey Arena this year.
First up: Nanaimo, and the Clippers sail into the SSA on a two-game winning streak after beginning the season with losses to Prince George and West Kelowna at the 2014 Bauer Hockey Showcase.
Nanaimo comes to The Nest icing a veteran-laden group led on the scoresheet by Devin Brosseau’s 3 goals and 4 assists, as well as Clippers’ goal-scoring leader Sheldon Rempal’s 4 goals and 2 assists.
The Eagles will look to stifle their offensive fire-power, as the Clippers boast the league’s highest goals-per-game average at a whopping 5.50. Once again, Surrey’s rookie goaltender Christian Short will be counted on to shoulder the load. Despite going without a win in the early stages of this season, Short has shined, posting some impressive numbers. He currently leads the BCHL in saves with 185, ahead of the next-closest netminder by 61 stops. That next-closest keeper? Nanaimo’s Guillaume Decelles, who will guard the posts on the opposite end of the ice this evening.
But Short will have some additional help this evening, as a pair of new defensemen to the Eagles make their debuts in the Surrey colours. Import defenders Andy Chugg and Zane Schartz, both acquired on the trade market this past Wednesday, draw into the line-up this evening. For Schartz it is a home-coming of sorts, as the product of Plano, Texas played in ten games for the Eagles last season, amassing nine points and making all kinds of friends in the locker room during that time.
Offensively, White Rock local Ty Westgard’s 4 goals lead the Eagles in both goal-scoring and points, as the 16-year-old rookie has been impressive so far in his first full BCHL season.
Spark away from the puck may come from one of Westgard’s linemates this evening, as Ty lines up at center flanked by Joe Drapluk and Darius Davidson. Despite having only tallied one assist so far this year, Drapluk has been a noticeable player both with the puck and without every time he’s on the ice. He enters tonight’s action tied for first in the league in the Fortis BC Energy Player rankings, having earned the honour twice during last weekend’s action.
NOTES: The additions of defensemen Chugg and Schartz means Quinn Lenihan, who played his first game as a forward this past Sunday against Prince George, can remain up-front. Lenihan leads the Eagles in assists with 3. … It also means a regular defenseman will sit for the first time this season, as Jeeven Sidhu is scratched tonight. … Import D Kale Bennett returns to the SSA tonight, taking to the ice here for the first time in enemy colours. Bennett, who posted 21 points in 49 games for Surrey last season, was dealt to the Clippers just prior to the Bauer BCHL Showcase, in exchange for defenseman Trevor MacLean as part of a three-way deal that also involved Sunday’s opponent, the Langley Rivermen.
Puck-drop for tonight’s contest is at 7:11PM. For tickets, call 604-531-GOAL.
