Eagles Schedule: Key Dates

I know this is quite late, as the BCHL schedule was released nearly three weeks ago, but I'd like to take a quick look at some of the key dates in the Eagles schedule for this coming season.

The Eagles begin with three of their first four regular season games at the Prospera Centre in Chilliwack. They'll begin by playing both Powell River and West Kelowna at the new BCHL Showcase, on September 7th and 9th respectively, and will return for a match up with the Chiefs on September 15th. The home opener at the South Surrey Arena is on September 14th also against Chilliwack.

Due to the fact that the league decided to switch to a three division system for this coming season, the Eagles will only have to visit the teams outside their division once. This means less trips to both the interior (with the exception of Prince George who is also in the Mainland Division) and the island. The first major road trip of the season doesn't come until November 9th and 10th when the Eagles visit Salmon Arm and Vernon on Friday and Saturday before returning home for an afternoon game against Coquitlam on the holiday Monday. The divisional change also means that Eagles fans will get very familiar with their Mainland Division rivals as they'll face each team eight times over the course of the year.

The Eagles will welcome the defending Fred Page Cup champions, the Penticton Vees, to the South Surrey Arena on January 11th.

At the end of the regular season, the Eagles play four of their last six games against opponents from the island. They'll visit Powell River and Alberni Valley before having a home-and-home series with Cowichan. The team will wrap up the year with a pair of games against Coquitlam.

Every team in the BCHL will visit the South Surrey Arena this season including Powell River and West Kelowna who the Eagles will face three times each due to the fact that they play against them in the showcase.

A New Beginning

Hello and welcome to the Eagles Insider,

First off, I'd like to start by announcing that, effective immediately, I am taking over as the Director of Media Relations and play-by-play broadcaster for the Surrey Eagles on the BCHL.

This is a very exciting opportunity for me. I’m thrilled to be joining an organization that has a reputation for excelling both on and off the ice, and I can’t wait for the season to begin.

I have wanted to be a play-by-play broadcaster since about the age of five, and my career began calling road hockey games in the carport of my Coquitlam home. More recently, I am a graduate of BCIT's Broadcast Journalism program, and I currently work as an announcer and reporter for TEAM Radio in Vancouver, covering the Vancouver Canucks, BC Lions and much more. I will continue my work at the radio station in addition to my new role with the Eagles.

As a result of this opportunity, I am leaving my position as the public address announcer with the Coquitlam Express -- a post I've held for the last three seasons. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made my time with the hockey club in Coquitlam so enjoyable, specifically Darcy Rota, Taralynn Reburn, Ray de Julius, Eddie Gregory and Dr. Scott Morrison. I'm sure I'll see all of you around the rinks this season.

Over the coming days, months and years, I hope to keep you up to date on all of the happenings around the Surrey Eagles, and one of the ways of doing that is with this blog. As the season ramps up I'll provide game previews, recaps, interviews, feature stories and much more here on the Eagles Insider.

I hope you're as excited as I am to get the season underway.

Sincerely,

Brendan Batchelor

Director of Media Relations

Surrey Eagles Hockey Club