Eagles Edge Pistons

Trevor Cameron scored twice as the Surrey Eagles improved to 1-1 at the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup with a 5-3 win over the Manitoba Junior Hockey League champion Steinbach Pistons. Michael Santaguida made 33 saves for the win in the Surrey net.

The Eagles jumped on the Pistons right off the opening puck drop and got an early goal when Brady Shaw opened the scoring just over a minute into the game, beating Steinbach goaltender Corey Koop cleanly with a hard wrist shot off the rush. Surrey went ahead 2-0 later in the period after Cameron got the puck in the slot after a nice play by Demico Hannoun, and the Mission native wired the puck into the open cage with Koop down and out.

Both teams took a number of penalties in the second period, and neither side was able to capitalize on the power play until Adam Tambellini found the back of the net with a one-timer from the right circle to put Surrey ahead by three. The Pistons responded late in the frame as the puck came to Tyler Penner in the slot off a broken play. Penner got a shot on goal that Santaguida was able to stop with his left pad, but Nicholas Kobelka pounced on the rebound to put Steinbach on the board.

The Pistons scored again early in the third to pull themselves to within a goal of the Eagles as Trent Genyk received a pass from Matthew Franczyk in the slot and beat Santaguida to make it 3-2. Surrey regained the two goal lead when Cameron scored his second of the night with a nice shot from the left circle that snuck past Koop on the blocker side, but the Pistons were undeterred as they responded with a power play goal off the stick of captain Kyle Rous. Steinbach pulled the goalie in the late stages, in an attempt to tie the game, but Michael Stenerson ended any hopes of a comeback when he scored into the empty net in the last minute of play.

Steinbach out shot Surrey 36-31 in the game. Both teams were 1-for-5 on the power play, meaning the Eagles are now 2-for-12 in the tournament.

The Birds get right back at it on Tuesday with a match up against the host Nanaimo Clippers. Face-off goes at 7:00pm from Frank Crane Arena.

Surrey Player of the Game: Trevor Cameron

Steinbach Player of the Game: Tyler Penner

My 3 Stars:
1. Trevor Cameron - Surrey
2. Tyler Penner - Steinbach
3. Devon Toews - Surrey