Surrey Eagles vs Alberni Valley Bulldogs Pre-Game Recap

To The Island!

The Surrey Eagles (2-1-0) are back on the road tonight, and this time they’re taking the ferry over to Vancouver Island to start their Vancouver Island doubleheader against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (1-3-0). The Bulldogs finally picked up a win in their last game, but have started the season off slow with 3 losses prior. The Eagles on the other hand, got shut out in their home opener so a shot at redemption is at stake for both groups. 

The Eagles still boast a boatload of contributors up and down their lineup, but Jimmy Darby, JJ Fecteau, Kenny Riddett, Juliano Santalucia, and Gabe Schovanek all nursing injuries for tonight’s game. As such, Christian Fitzgerald and Kayden Sadhra-Kang will AP for the team tonight. Fitzgerald has already played 2 games with the team this year, while Sadhra-Kang will be playing his first with the Eagles. Cal Schell looks to build on his impressive first game, and will get the start tonight. Full lineup is below:

Who To Watch Out For

These 2 teams are coming into this one feeling 2 different ways about their play, but both teams do boast some offensive moxy at the top of their lineup. The Bulldogs have 2 players at 4 points in forwards Mitch Deelstra and Tommy Bannister, while the Eagles just have Cristophe Tellier leading the way at 4 points. Points aren’t everything however, especially early in the year, and the Eagles will look to capitalize on a group which has had trouble keeping the puck out of the back of their net. Below are my players to watch in tonight’s game for both teams.

Surrey Eagles: Adamo Santia

The Richmond Hill, Ontario native is tied for the team lead in goals with 2. The power forward has displayed a deft scoring touch while also being able to get in front of the net and play physical. This is a game where he can really shine. If he can use his body to muscle his way to the front of the net against a team which has struggled for most of the season, he should be able to open up time and space for his linemates and help the Eagles control the pace of the game.

Alberni Valley Bulldogs: Tommy Bannister

For the Bulldogs, you don’t have to go too far down their roster to find their leading goal scorer. The Clayton, New York native has put up 4 goals in 3 games to help pace the Bulldogs attack, despite 3 losses for his team early in the year. The 18 year old has been excellent for Alberni, and the Eagles HAVE to find a way to shut him down.

3 Keys To The Game

The Eagles are looking to get back in the win column, and they’re 2-0 on the road this season. However, some early struggles with their special teams and defensive lapses cost them last week, and they’ll need to keep themselves in check if they want their 3rd win of the year. Below are the 3 keys to the game.

– Need to score on the powerplay: If the Eagles are gifted powerplay opportunities, then they need to capitalize. The Eagles powerplay has started the year with 1 goal in 12 chances, and their lack of production was evident in their loss to Coquitlam in the home opener. If the Eagles catch the Bulldogs in penalty trouble, they need to convert and make the game easier for themselves.

– Don’t give up a powerplay goal: The 2nd key relates to the special teams as well, as on top of a poor Eagles powerplay, the penalty kill has relinquished at least 1 goal in every game so far this year. While having good discipline makes this a moot point, there’s a good chance the Eagles will take a penalty or two off of luck alone. They have to tighten up in their own end when down a man and keep Alberni off the board.

– Don’t let up: A simple key, but one the Eagles should abide by. While the Eagles were shutout, and they had a lot of chances, the Express goaltender played out of his mind. If the Eagles keep up the pressure and generate a lot of high quality scoring chances, they’re going to find the back of the net. Cam Keith loves talking about how this team is a very offensive team, and they have a good chance to show it.

Summary

The Eagles start on their 2nd road trip in the 3rd week of the season, but have a shot to start the year 3-1. An impressive feat for the boys, but it’s not going to be easy. The crowd at the Weyerhaeuser Arena will be loud, and the boys need to keep themselves composed, strengthen their special teams, and keep the offense flowing. As long as the defense keeps Alberni’s offensive pressure to a minimum, the Eagles offense will get a shot to break out and put themselves back in the win column. You can catch all the action live on HockeyTV and Mixlr. Puck drop is at 7:00pm.