Surrey Eagles vs Wenatchee Wild Post Game Recap

 

Wenatchee, WA – Despite twice holding the lead, the Surrey Eagles couldn’t seal the deal on Saturday night as they dropped a 4-3 loss in overtime to the Wenatchee Wild before a big crowd at the Town Toyota Center. Playing the last of five straight B.C. Hockey League road games over the past two weeks, the Eagles were full value in securing a valuable road point. It turned third-place Surrey’s one-point advantage in the Mainland Division into two over the idle Langley Rivermen, who do have two games in hand.

The single point earned came against a Wild team fighting for its own playoff position in the middle of the league’s Interior Division. Both Surrey and Langley are obviously hoping to avoid finishing fourth in the division as such will entail a first-round playoff matchup versus the runaway BCHL-leading Coquitlam Express—who have yet to lose a game at home this season.

A win would have given the Eagles their fourth win in the final outing of a five-game road swing away from South Surrey Arena. Still, three Ws and an OT loss while jostling for playoff positioning isn’t bad.

“I thought this was one that slipped through our fingertips a little bit at the end, but that was an evenly-played game for the most part,” said Surrey head coach Cam Keith post-game. “Although they capitalized when it mattered most and we didn’t, I still think it still was a positive road result for our group.”

The Eagles surrendered their second lead of the night midway through the third period, and then the game-winner 2:58 into the extra frame after a quick release and hard shot off the stick of Wild leading scorer Nick Cafarelli beat Eagles goalie Reece Klassen.

“I thought we had control for most of the game in the third period, and although we lost it was still a character point from the point of view of it being a hard-fought battle in a tough environment that we got a point out of,” said Keith. “It was their honour the military night, and the Wild put on a big, broad show,” noted the Surrey head coach. “But our kids weren’t intimidated, and stuck to our game plan. In a tough barn we played physical and made plays when we had to.’

Second period goals by Cristophe Tellier and defenseman Brendan Kim, with his first in an Eagles uniform, gave Surrey a 2-1 lead, and the red-hot Tellier then potted his second of the game against his former teammates seven minutes into the third period to give the Eagles their second lead in what was a low-shooting affair for the most part.

The boys had a little more to celebrate despite the defeat. With two assists on both of Tellier’s goals, Hudson Schandor hit 100 career BCHL points. The Eagles captain is in his 3rd BCHL season, spending his previous years with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.

For the Eagles, it’s just a matter of time and games played before they officially book their ticket to the post-season, and as Keith stated of his surging team, “I don’t think other teams will be excited to meet us in the playoffs. We’re young and we’ve got good goaltending. Anything can happen.”

Saturday night’s game in Wenatachee marked the last of the Eagles’ major road jaunts this season. Upcoming are a pair of home games next weekend as Surrey faces a stretch of three games in three days. Friday the Prince George Spruce Kings pay a visit to the South Surrey Arena. Saturday the Eagles are in Merritt to take on the Centennials before returning home to play the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Sunday as they host their Star Wars Night.

The Eagles will then play six of their final nine regular season games at home in February.