This afternoon, the Surrey Eagles (4-5-0) begin their BCHL Showcase 2 game set against the Nanaimo Clippers (3-3-1) at 1:00pm. The Eagles are coming off a loss against the Island Division leading Cowichan Valley Capitals, and are looking to climb back to .500 today against another Island foe. An odd early start, but just the way the Eagles and Clippers drew the sticks, and the atmosphere at the Chilliwack Coliseum should be electric regardless. For this Eagles team, keeping themselves composed in one of the biggest events of the year will play a huge factor in their game this afternoon.

The Eagles look to have a few surprise returnees to the lineup tonight after they’ve missed the first month of the season. A sight for sore eyes as this team has battled through a slew of early season injuries to begin their year. Look for the full lineup later today on our social media channels.

Who To Watch Out For

It’s easy to say there are a bunch of players to keep an eye on for both of these teams, but in reality, every player here will have a set of eyes on them. This event is key for fans and scouts alike to see all the stars in the BCHL in one place, and to celebrate this great league. However, this game only features 2 of those teams, and here are the 2 players to watch out for on both sides. 

Surrey Eagles: Cade Alami

The easiest player to spot on the ice, Cade Alami is used to having eyes on him all the time. The 6’7 Providence commit was on the NHL’s central scouting last year, despite his rash of injuries and inability to get back into the lineup. This year, Alami has played in all 9 games, scored his first BCHL goal, and has flashed all the skills necessary to be an impact defenseman moving forward. Look for him to step up in the bright lights this afternoon and be a rock on the backend.

Nanaimo Clippers: Travis Walton

For the Clippers today, look for 20 year old Travis Walton to be the go to guy for a Clippers team that has only scored 14 goals through 7 games this year. Walton played his last 3 seasons with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, but never registered more than 10 points. He’s back down in the BCHL, and has started off well and helped pace his team in scoring, albeit with just 5 points. On a Clippers team that has struggled to score, Walton seems to be one of the only players who can get it done.

3 Keys To The Game

For the Eagles, they’re going up against one of the stingiest teams in the league. While the Clippers have shown an inability to score, they’ve been exceptional in their own end only giving up 14 goals for an even goal differential to start their season. Regardless of what the Clippers try and do, here are today’s 3 keys for the Eagles.

– Score the first goal: I’m going to put this in simple terms, they need to go score the first goal. The Eagles have given up the opening tally in 8 of their first 9 games this season. While this team has no quit in it, and have come back and won 3 games this year, it’s time to break this streak and start the game with an advantage.

– Don’t get caught up in the event: This is one of the biggest 2 game sets of the year for any team in the BCHL, and all of their players. It’s especially big for a young team like the Eagles with many players looking to make a name for themselves early in their BCHL careers. Keeping their emotions in check will be a key in keeping this game under control. If they start doing too much, trying to impress the scouts. All they’ll do is show the scouts mistake after mistake, and lose out on a golden opportunity.

– Keep things simple: One thing that’s very clear is this Eagles team has a boatload of skill. The only problem is they’re continually trying to do too much with the puck and it’s costing them scoring chances. While it’s easy for people not playing to say, the Eagles have to keep things simple and get back to their game. If they do, expect the Eagles to put up closer to 7 goals than 0 and come away with the win.

Summary

This weekend is a phenomenal event for the league, and the Eagles will get an opportunity today to climb back to .500 in their first game of the showcase. The energy in the building will be abundant, and the boys will be energized. If they can start out strong, keep things simple, and keep their emotions in check, look for them to bust out in a big way and finish day 1 with 2 more points in the standings.

Can’t make the drive out to Chilliwack tonight? Don’t worry, you can catch the live broadcast on HockeyTV and Mixlr. The broadcast will start at 12:50pm, with the opening puck drop slated for 1:00pm.