SURREY — Good things come to those who wait, and it’s safe to say the Surrey Eagles have been waiting.
Seven games into the season, Surrey was finally rewarded for a series of strong efforts on home ice, all of which ended in heartbreak.
Until tonight. With their Mainland Divisional rivals the Langley Rivermen making their first trip of the regular season to the South Surrey Arena, the Eagles were quick to strike against the tired legs of a club playing its third game in as many nights.
With Surrey on an early power-play, Latrell Charleson fired a hard shot from the right point that was stopped by Langley goalie Bo Didur. But the former Eagles netminder couldn’t hang on to it, allowing Ty Westgard to take a swipe at the loose puck before Joe Drapluk went short-side on the backhand, lifting the puck over Didur’s pads to open the scoring just 2:02 into the opening frame.
It wouldn’t take the Rivermen long to respond however, as just under four minutes later, a Jordan Schneider floater shot from the left point would change directions at the last moment, deflected off the stick of Ryan Coulter, just over the glove-side shoulder of Christian Short. Langley’s goal came at the 5:59 mark of the period, and would be the only shot to beat Short all night.
The Eagles would answer back before the end of the period, as Didur denied a Chase McMurphy breakaway chance only to see the loose puck land squarely on the stick of a streaking Ben Vikich. Vikich was able to bang home the rebound for his second goal in as many games since being promoted to Surrey’s top line.
The score stayed stuck at 2-1 Surrey until late in the second, when John Wesley stretched the lead to two after two tremendous dangles. Taking a stretch pass up ice from newly-acquired defenseman Zane Schartz, Wesley broke off the nearside boards with a nifty move into the middle deking out not one but two Rivermen defenders before deftly putting the puck past Didur. Schartz and Jeeven Sidhu had the assists, the helper Schartz’s first point in his second go-round with the Eagles.
That’s where the score would stay until the final buzzer, but the third period was not without intrigue. The South Surrey Arena collectively held its breath early in the final frame after Langley forward Will Cook plowed into Short after powering towards the goal. The Eagles’ early-season MVP remained on the ice for lengthy stretch, appearing to favour his left leg before eventually getting back to his feet and electing to stay in the game.
So close to his first victory of the year, there would be no keeping Short out of this one. He made an additional 10 saves in the third for a 29 save performance worthy of first-star honours in the building.
Wesley looked to have given his team another goal not long after Short was shaken up, but the net was knocked off its moorings before the puck crossed the line.
The win is Surrey’s first of the season, and Head Coach Blaine Neufeld’s first as Junior A coach — one the loud crowd who gave the Eagles a rousing ovation as they left the ice hopes will be the first of many this year.
NOTES: Latrell Charleson was not credited with an assist on the opening goal in the building, though that is likely to be corrected. It stands to be Charleson’s first point of the year. The bruising defenseman followed the point with his first scrap of the year as well, getting into a spirited bout with Langley’s Brendan Gulka in the final minute of the second period. … Joe Drapluk was once again named the Fortis BC Energy Player of the Game. It is his third such honour this season, sharing the league lead with Prince George’s Justin Rai.
The Eagles next home game is this Wednesday night against the visiting Salmon Arm SilverBacks, puck-drop at 7:11PM. The home-stand concludes with a 4PM afternoon date next Sunday against the Trail Smoke Eaters. For tickets, call 604-531-GOAL.
