RECAP: Surrey picks up first win in 6-3 victory over Cowichan Valley

By Isabella Urbani (Image: Brandon Sims)

It’s official, the Surrey Eagles (1-1-0-0) are in the win column after a three-goal third period gave them the edge over the 0-3-0-0 Cowichan Valley Capitals. The Eagles had extra incentive to right their 4-1 loss to the Prince George Spruce Kings on Friday night with the return of former Head Coach and GM Cam Keith. Keith, the current Head Coach and GM of Cowichan played junior hockey in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) before coaching in the league in 2016. He joined Surrey as the Head Coach and Assistant Manager three seasons later in 2019 and led the team to their first Fred Page Cup in 11 years last season.

Before the game, Keith was presented with his team-winning championship ring. He was honoured for his time and contributions to the team with a video tribute played for the fans attending Sunday afternoon’s game. By the end of the contest, there were more reasons for celebrations as four of Surrey’s five goal-scorers picked up their first career BCHL goal.

Keith and his Capitals got on the board early, marking the second time in consecutive games the Eagles have given up the game’s first goal in less than two minutes. Defenceman Linden Burrett found the back of the net on a Cowichan rush after three Eagles got caught up high after a turnover in the neutral zone. 1-0 Cowichan. Surrey trailed the Capitals, once all game, for 7:42 seconds, before Nolan Flynn scored the equalizer, picking up his first goal in the BCHL. The play leading to the goal began in the Eagles’ zone, where forward Brady Kudrick reversed the puck behind the net to the half-wall. Surrey captain Jackson Andersson left his spot at the front of the net to be the first Eagle on the puck, quickly moving it up the nearside boards to forward Massimo Fazzio. Fazzio, who picked up the secondary assist on Surrey’s opening drive, found trailing defenceman Jeremy Friesen across the ice. He sprung Flynn to his farside snipe under the glove of Cowichan goalie Alexei Noskov. 1-1.

The Eagles succeeded at finding the back of the Capitals’ net last season, winning all four matchups and notching at least four goals in each appearance. Heading into Sunday’s game, Cowichan had given up four goals to Salmon Arm on opening night, and eight goals to Coquitlam the night before, making it the Capitals’ third game in as many days. With just under five minutes remaining in the opening 20, Surrey doubled their goal-scoring total from Friday night with a beautiful give-and-go from forward Cam Russo to goal scorer Kudrick. Defenceman Davis Hails picked up the secondary assist on the goal after knocking the puck off a Cowichan stick to send Kudrick on an odd-man rush with Russo. 2-1 Surrey. The Eagles closed out the first period leading by one and with six players picking up their first point off the season after just three players recorded points on Friday night. Shots 12-8 shots in favour of Surrey.

Despite Surrey and Cowichan exchanging power plays in the middle frame, both of the period’s goals occurred in the last minute of play. The Capitals had the more dangerous of the two power
plays, showcasing their 40% power play conversion rate through two games. Surrey goaltender Jaiden Sharma was the team’s best penalty killer, stopping numerous centring feeds in dangerous
proximity to the net to keep the penalty kill perfect through two games. When the Eagles did score, Dean Toskos potted home the rebound off Kudrick’s wrist shot from the left hash marks to
momentarily extend Surrey’s lead to two. 3-1 Eagles. However, a Cowichan set play off the faceoff dot beat Sharma stick side to pull the Capitals back within one. 3-2 Eagles. Shots 14-12
in favour of Cowichan.

After what felt like it would be a next-goal-wins period, Surrey erased Cowichan’s late goal with an early marker of their own, just 58 seconds into the period from Fazzio. Similar to the Eagles’
three goals on the board, good puck support from wingers pushed Surrey up the ice. Ryan Evenhuis drove the net, drawing in two defenders. By the time Evenhuis dished the puck back to
Fazzio who carried it up the length of the ice, he’d been able to set up shop in the slot and snap it home. 4-2 Eagles. But just as they did all game long, the Capitals quickly responded, this time
taking two minutes to tally some return fire after forward Darius Bachler was the first to a loose puck in the crease. 4-3 Eagles.

The game remained separated by a single goal until rookie Landon Jassmann fooled Cowichan with a goal of his own right off the faceoff, extending the Eagles’ lead to three, and picking up a
souvenir in the process with his first BCHL goal. 5-3 Eagles. The Capitals tried their luck with the extra attacker but were unsuccessful as Brandon Gill’s empty net look, which bounced off the
back wall, doubled as a pass for Kudrick who fired the sharp angle shot just above the goal line to seal the deal for Surrey. 6-3 Eagles. Shots 12-8 in favour of Cowichan.

Eagles’ goalie Sharma picked up his and the team’s first win of the season with a 31-save performance. FortisBC Energy Player of the Game went to Surrey forward Nolan Flynn with one
goal and one assist. Fazzio picked up the game’s second star with his game-winning goal and one assist, and Kudrick was the first star, picking up a point on all but two of Surrey’s goals.

Join the Eagles at home for Vacation Night as they take on the Langley Riverman (1-0-0-0) on September 27th @7:00 p.m.