By: Isabella Urbani PHOTO: Brandon David (BrandonDavidImages)
SURREY – The Surrey Eagles (16-11-3-0) opened the year with a rematch against their first opponent from the start of the season, the Prince George Spruce Kings (10-15-3-1). The Eagles looked to even the series season against the Spruce Kings at two games apiece after dropping their season opener 4-1 and splitting their road trip back in October with Prince George. In standalone competition, Surrey has the edge with a record of 13-8-3-0 to the Spruce Kings’ record of 8-11-3-1.
The first period was scoreless as both teams settled into their return to the ice following the brief winter break. An illegal hit to the head delivered by a Spruce King player in the final 20 seconds of the period had tempers flaring as coincidental roughing penalties were also given out. After a video review, the illegal hit to the head was deemed a major, and the Spruce King player was kicked out of the game, sending Surrey to a five-minute power play. Deadlocked at zero, Prince George outshot Surrey 13-10, heading into the second period short a player for 4:42 seconds.
Surrey couldn’t find the game’s opening drive despite extended time on the man advantage. An interference call in the later half of the second period gave the Spruce Kings a 1-0 lead from a shot at the left-side hash marks. Prince George’s powerplay marker was the second period’s lone goal as the Eagles headed into the third period trailing by one and outshot 10-9, looking for a goal to get them back into the game and make it three straight wins at home — their most of the season.
A high-sticking call on the Spruce Kings 59 seconds into the third period sent the league’s best home power play to work. In his return to the lineup, captain Jackson Anderson’s shot from the point from Ryan Evenhuis and Shawn Leary beat Prince George’s goalie Dylan Johnson to tie the game at one. With the assists, Evenhuis extended his point streak to seven games and Leary recorded his seventh point in five games.
Less than three minutes later, Gavin Rocha gave Surrey the go-ahead goal to take the lead, outwaiting the goalie to tuck the puck in after great puck pursual on the penalty kill by Sihwan Kim. 2-1 Surrey. With the shorthanded goal, Rocha tied Brandon Gill for the team lead with two shorthanded goals and moved into sixth league-wide. Kim, the First Star of the Week on Dec 16 following eight points in four games, restarted his point streak after being held off the scoresheet last game. He has yet to be pointless in consecutive games this season.
Gill, who tallied the team’s first goal of the season in their home opener against Prince George, scored his 11th goal and the game’s insurance marker, putting home the backhander after a pump fake move caused the goalie to bite. The play started in the Spruce Kings’ zone from Nolan Flynn’s pass to Jagjeeven Phangura, who masterfully thwarted an attacker long enough to drop it to a wide-open and streaking Gill. 3-1 Surrey.
Kim’s empty-net goal for his ninth of the season from Gill and Rocha was the icing on the cake for the Eagles, who reversed their 4-1 home opener loss to the Spruce Kings. 4-1 Surrey. Shots 13-13. Gill picked up his third consecutive multi-point game with the assist, as Surrey continued to hit its stride.
Eagles’ goalie Aidan Fischer was phenomenal again at home, as his lockdown efforts allowed his team to pull out another win in the third period where they score most of their goals. He stopped 35/36 shots in the victory, moving into sole possession of most wins on the team among goalies — allowing one goal in each of his last three home games.
Rocha was the night’s FortisBC Player of the Game with the game-winning goal and one assist. Evenhuis picked up the third star of the night with his assist on Surrey’s first goal, and Kim was the second star with a goal and an assist. The first star was reserved for Fischer, picking up his third straight first star of the season at home.
The Surrey Eagles (17-11-3-0) will take on the best team in the Coastal Conference, the Chilliwack Chiefs (21-7-3-0) next at home on Friday, January 10. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m.
