By: Isabella Urbani PHOTO: Brandon David (BrandonDavidImages)
SURREY – The Surrey Eagles (13-8-3-0) dropped their first home matchup of December to the Powell River Kings (5-16-2-1) after opening the scoring 49 seconds into the game. The Eagles returned home after picking up five of a possible six points in a row, securing victories on the road against the Alberta Cup and Rocky Mountain Champions, the Brooks Bandits and the Okotoks Oilers in back-to-back nights.
Surrey’s leading point-scorer Sihwan Kim capitalized on his sixth goal of the season after causing a turnover at the farside half-wall. Teammate Gavin Rocha picked up the loose puck, feathering a pass in the high slot to Cameron Caron who fed Kim at the front of the net for a backhand tuck. 1-0 Surrey.
The Eagles doubled their lead less than five minutes later with Cam Russo’s fourth goal of the season. Russo, who kept the play alive in the zone after his shot rang high and wide, was the benefactor of a hard-nosed cycle below the goal line between Savek Brar and Dean Toskos — the latter of the two centred a pass to Russo in the slot. 2-0 Surrey.
The Kings unusually drew the game within one after Ben Wright ripped it home under the glove of Aidan Fischer on a penalty shot. 2-1 Surrey. Powell River tallied in the final minute to end the first period with both teams tied at two. Niccolo Mansueto scored short side after the initial save was cleared away. 2-2. Shots 17-11 Powell River.
The Kings secured their first lead of the night eight minutes into the middle frame after Jake Westhaver’s shot from the hash marks redirected off an Eagles’ stick, trickling in five-hole. 3-2 Powell River.
After a penalty-free first, a slashing call sent the Eagles to their first power play of the game. Ryan Evenhuis extended Surrey’s home power play streak to seven games, dating back to October 18, with his fifth goal of the season from defenceman Hunter Heisten and Miles Burgin. Heisten and Burgin played catch from the right-side circle to the top of the blueline before Heisten released a shot pass to Evenhuis who slid it home at the side of the net. 3-3.
The tie lasted all of 50 seconds before Max Jelavic recorded the eventual game-winning goal, snapping it home blocker side on a Kings’ rush into the zone. 4-3 Powell River. Shots 14-10 Powell River.
The third period came and went for the Eagles who outshot their opposition 18-2. Despite putting up the most shots in a period by either team, Surrey failed to put the equalizer past Powell River goaltender Vincent Lamberti with the extra attacker — coming close, but unable to finish. 4-3 Powell River.
Kim picked up the FortisBC Energy Player of the Game for Surrey as fellow goalscorer Russo picked up the evening’s third star. Fischer, who appeared in all three of Surrey’s road games in consecutive games to end November, made 29/33 saves.
The Surrey Eagles (13-9-3-0) will look for their first home win of the month when they take on the Coquitlam Express (13-9-2-1) on December 13. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m.
