Langley, B.C – The Langley Rivermen exploded for five goals in the third period to post a runaway 7-2 B.C. Hockey League victory over the visiting Surrey Eagles on Saturday night at the George Preston Recreation Centre.
The Rivermen’s offensive explosion was led by Matthew Hubbarde’s hat-trick and came after the teams were tied 2-2 after 40 minutes. In a showdown for third place in the BCHL’s Mainland Division, the victory gave Langley a three-point lead over Surrey. The Rivermen also won the special teams’ battle, going two-for-five on the powerplay while denying the Eagles on all eight of their man-advantage situations.
Langley held a 1-0 lead after a herky-jerky first period which saw seven minor penalties called. The Eagles controlled much of the second period in which they outshot the Rivermen 12-8, and took a 2-1 lead on goals by Cristophe Tellier and Adamo Santia in the first eight minutes of the period. However, Langley’s Tristan Fraser knotted it at 2-2 late in the frame, a goal from which the Eagles seemingly couldn’t recover from.
Three goals in 3:13 before the third period reached the nine-minute mark chased Eagles starting goalie Cal Schell. Back-up Jonathan Holloway, an affiliated player called up from the White Rock Whalers of the Pacific Junior Hockey League, finished up. Surrey’s number one goalie, Tommy Scarfone, is sidelined with a groin injury.
“I think inexperience cost us, for sure. I think there were too many kids tonight who were passengers and were hoping someone else would take control, and we don’t have enough older guys to do that,” said Eagles head coach Cam Keith. “Our top line scored again tonight, but we didn’t have that secondary scoring. We made too many inexperienced mistakes in a rink where you have to play a very simplified game. You can’t really get too fancy because that’s not Langley’s style. They crash pucks hard. You have to play with skill, but you have to manage pucks and we didn’t do that well enough tonight.
“It’s disappointing considering the circumstances of how much it meant. It was a big four-point game and with the playoffs starting to come into focus those points will most likely come into play at the end of the year,” added Keith. “So, we just have to get back on our horse here and focus on Victoria tomorrow,” when the Grizzlies pay a visit to South Surrey Arena. For both teams, it will be third game in three days.
