Eagles Fall to Chiefs in Chilliwack

The Surrey Eagles fell to 2-2-0-0 on the season after a 4-2 loss at the hands of the Chilliwack Chiefs at Prospera Centre on Saturday evening. Mitch Gillam had a strong game in goal for the Chiefs, making 41 saves to pick up his second win of the season.

Neither team was able to score in the first period, but the Chiefs found the net just 1:26 into the middle frame when Spencer Graboski fired a wrist shot from the slot that beat Surrey net minder Glenn Ferguson up high. Just 2:31 later, the Chiefs scored again. This time Luke Esposito scored on Ferguson with a backhander off a rebound in front of goal. And Chilliwack wasn’t done there. Less than two minutes after Esposito’s goal, Tanner Cochrane added his name to the score sheet, giving the Chiefs a 3-0 lead before the second period was six minutes old.

Brett Mulcahy scored the first goal for the Eagles at 11:24 after Eric Chevrier’s point shot missed the net and bounced off the end boards, allowing Mulcahy to bat the puck past Gillam at the right post. But the Chiefs would regain the three goal lead before the second period was out as Josh Hansen netted his second goal of the season with just 1:09 to go in the stanza.

Chilliwack maintained the 4-1 lead until late in the third when Drew Best, who scored the overtime winner for Surrey on Friday night, tallied his second of the year with just 35.5 seconds remaining in the hockey game.

All six goals in the hockey game were scored at even strength. The Eagles power play, which scored twice on Friday, went 0-for-4 while the Chiefs were 0-for-2.

Beau Orser of the Eagles and Brodyn Nielsen of the Chiefs were each given fighting majors and game misconducts after the two dropped the gloves late in the third period. Orser landed a couple of right hands but in the end the fight couldn't be ruled as anything other than a draw with neither combatant taking a clear upper hand.

Surrey's newest addition, Mason Blacklock, was not in the lineup after being acquired from Nanaimo earlier in the day. He is expected to join the team this week and will likely be available to play next weekend.

The Eagles next game is on Friday, September 21st against the Victoria Grizzlies at the South Surrey Arena. The face-off goes at 7:00pm. Get your tickets by calling 604-531-4625.

My 3 Stars:
1. Spencer Graboski - Chilliwack
2. Mitch Gillam – Chilliwack
3. Luke Esposito – Chilliwack

Official 3 Stars:
1. Spencer Graboski - Chilliwack
2. Luke Esposito – Chilliwack
3. Josh Hansen - Chilliwack