Eagles Lose Close Affair in Victoria

The Fitzgerald triplets combined for five points to help lead the Victoria Grizzlies to a 2-1 win over the Surrey Eagles on Saturday night. With the loss, the Birds' four game winning streak was snapped. 

Surrey had a strong start to the hockey game but couldn't find the net, and the Grizzlies struck first at 3:22 of the first when Gerry Fitzgerald knocked a rebound past Surrey goalie Glenn Ferguson. The Eagles had a good chance to tie the game late in the first, but Brett Mulcahy wrung the puck off the iron with a shot from the deep slot. 

In the middle frame, the Grizzlies tried to extend their lead but Ferguson stood tall, turning aside all 13 Victoria shots in the period. At 15:21, Brady Shaw tied the game for the Birds with a hard slap shot from the right circle. The goal was Shaw's team leading 17th of the year. 

Victoria retook the lead midway through the third when Gerry Fitzgerald scored his second goal of the evening on the power play after the Eagles took a too many men on the ice penalty. The Grizzlies thought they had extended the lead a few minutes later, but the goal was disallowed after referee Ryan Benbow ruled that Stefan Nicholishen had kicked the puck into the net. The Birds had a number of chances to tie the game late in the third, but Victoria net minder Michael Stiliadis stood tall, preserving the victory for the Grizzlies.

The Surrey power play went a disappointing 0-for-6 in the loss, and the Eagles managed only 28 shots on the Victoria goal. Ferguson made 35 saves between the pipes in the losing cause.

The season series between the Grizzlies and Eagles is now finished with each team picking up a regulation victory.

The Eagles will get right back at it as they conclude their two game Island Division road-trip Sunday afternoon in Nanaimo. The puck drop will be at 3:00pm from Frank Crane Arena.

Official 3 Stars:

1. Gerry Fitzgerald - Victoria

2. Brady Shaw - Surrey

3. Leo Fitzgerald - Victoria

My 3 Stars:

1. Gerry Fitzgerald - Victoria

2. Leo Fitzgerald - Victoria

3. Glenn Ferguson - Surrey

Pre-Game Report: Eagles at Grizzlies

The Surrey Eagles will play the first of a two game Island Division road trip tonight in Victoria against the Grizzlies. It will be the second and final meeting between the two teams. The Birds defeated the Grizzlies 3-2 back on September 21st at the South Surrey Arena.

Surrey ended the month of November with six straight divisional games, and the Birds skated away with five wins in those match-ups. The Eagles enter tonight's action on a four game winning streak and can move past the Chilliwack Chiefs into first in the Mainland Division if they beat both Victoria and Nanaimo this weekend. Meanwhile, Devon Toews has been hot of late for Surrey. The 18-year-old defenseman has put up six points over his last three games.

The Grizzlies are coming off a 3-2 victory over the Powell River Kings on Friday evening. Victoria has only lost once in regulation in its last eight games and currently sits in first place in the Island Division with a four point cushion on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The Fitzgerald triplets are clearly the top offensive threat for the Grizzlies. Myles, Leo and Gerry have combined for a whopping 75 points this season which accounts for over 30 per cent of the team's scoring.

Where: Bear Mountain Arena

When: 7:15pm

How to listen: Victoria Broadcast

How to watch: Fast Hockey

Eagles Aim to Fill the Rink for Kidsport Night

For immediate release: December 6, 2012

Surrey, BC - The Surrey Eagles are aiming to fill the rink for the team's home game against the Powell River Kings on December 14th in support of Kidsport.

Kidsport is a non-profit organization that raises money to help provide children living in poverty from the ages of five to 18 with the opportunity to play organized sports that they otherwise would be unable to afford. One dollar from every ticket sold to the game on December 14th will be donated to Kidsport Surrey White Rock, helping children in the local community.

The Eagles would also like to encourage individuals and businesses to donate as well. For every $12.50 that is donated, the Kidsport Ticker on the Eagles website, which keeps track of the amount of money from each ticket that will go to Kidsport, will increase by one cent. The seating capacity at the South Surrey Arena is 1,250.

Keep track of the ticker by clicking here.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Kidsport for the game on December 14th," said Eagles Director of Sales and Marketing Andrew Delbaere. "Every child should have the chance to play sports as it keeps them healthy and provides them with many skills and life lessons that are incredibly valuable."

To donate money or to purchase tickets to the game, call the Surrey Eagles office at 604-531-GOAL (4625).

The Matt Erhart Show: December 5, 2012

The Dan and Mase Show: Christmas Wish Lists

This is the first episode of a new weekly segment here on the Eagles Insider Blog. The Dan and Mase Show is hosted by Dan O'Keefe and Mason Blacklock. The two members of the Eagles will chat with teammates each week about a variety of different topics. This week's show was about Christmas wish lists. Dan and Mase were joined by Trevor Cameron, Craig Wyszomirski, Michael Stenerson and Joel Gaudet.

Eagles Get Honourable Mention

For the second week in a row, the Surrey Eagles were given honourable mention when the CJHL put out the list of the top 20 Junior A teams in Canada. The Brooks Bandits of the AJHL remained in the #1 spot while BCHL teams on the list included Chilliwack, Penticton and Victoria.

Here's the full release from the CJHL:

The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting announced today its Weekly Top 20 rankings for the week of December 3rd. Last week’s rankings and the leagues in which the teams belong to are in parenthesis.

The CJHL Weekly Top 20 as of Monday, December 3rd

1. (1) Brooks Bandits(AJHL)
2. (2) Truro Bearcats(MHL)
3. (4) Minnesota Wilderness(SIJHL)
4. (5) Trenton Golden Hawks(OJHL)
5. (3) Flin Flon Bombers(SJHL)
6. (6) OCN Blizzard(MJHL)
7. (7) Soo Thunderbirds(NOJHL)
8. (8)Grande PrairieStorm (AJHL)
9. (11) Summerside Western Capitals(MHL)
10. (10) Buffalo Jr. Sabres(OJHL)
11. (9) Chilliwack Chiefs(BCHL)
12. (16) Yorkton Terriers(SJHL)
13. (15) Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners(MHL)
14. (13) Penticton Vees (BCHL)
15. (12) Victoria Grizzlies(BCHL)
16. (NR) Dauphin Kings(MJHL)
17. (HM) St. Michael’s Buzzers(OJHL)
18. (19) Smiths Falls Bears(CCHL)
19. (20) Saint Jerome Pantheres(LHJAAAQ)
20. (NR) College Francais Longeueil(LHJAAAQ)

Honourable Mention goes to the Surrey Eagles (BCHL), Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL), Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL), North Bay Trappers (NOJHL), Nepean Raiders (CCHL)

The weekly rankings are based upon a variety of factors, including the league in which the teams play, winning percentage, win-loss record, total points accumulated, goals-for versus goals-against ratio, etc.

The CJHL is an amalgamation of ten Junior A hockey leagues from across Canada. More information on the CJHL can be found by clicking on the league website. www.cjhlhockey.com

Mulcahy's Hard Work Pays Off

On Friday, November 30, 2012, Brett Mulcahy was named the captain of the Surrey Eagles. The 19-year-old forward, who is in his second season in Surrey and third year in the BCHL, is having his best offensive season to date. But Mulcahy has had to overcome his fair share of adversity to reach this point.

After a pair of strong seasons in the BC Major Midget League with the Okanagan Rockets, the Kelowna native made the jump to the BCHL at the age of 17 with the Westside Warriors. Mulcahy posted 11 points in 34 games in the 2010-2011 season with the Warriors, but he was sidelined midway through the year by an injured wrist that required surgery. The following season, Mulcahy didn’t make the team out of training camp and was released.

“Obviously, when what happened in Westside happened, it was a shock,” said Mulcahy. “You feel like your world is crashing down.”

But that’s when he received a phone call from Eagles Head Coach and General Manager Matt Erhart. It was a call that has changed his junior hockey career.

“When Matt gave me a call and asked me to come to Surrey, it turned out to be a great fit,” said Mulcahy. “I couldn’t imagine playing anywhere else now that I’ve been a part of this organization.”

In his first season with the Eagles last year, Mulcahy played more of a checking role and was counted on to win face-offs and kill penalties, but Erhart could see that the young forward was capable of more.

“Sometimes as a 17 or 18 year-old in the BCHL, you don’t get the opportunity just based on having older guys on the team,” said Erhart. “He’s a player that really comes to work everyday. He really trains hard, works hard in the summer and works hard at practice. Those guys are the types of players that continually get better, and we’ve seen that this year. He’s taken the next step from maybe more of a checker last year, to a complete player for us this year.”

With his increased role and improved offensive output, Mulcahy is enjoying playing the game more than ever, but he still yearns to improve and keep growing as a player.

“It’s nice to finally break out and be happy with my game a little bit,” he said. “Obviously, I’m never happy with my game. I still want to get better, but compared to the last two years it’s a lot of fun to come to the rink now.”

Now that he has the captain’s ‘C’ firmly stitched to his jersey as well, Mulcahy feels humbled to be leading the team, but he also truly enjoys playing a leadership role both on and off the ice.

“It’s a huge honour. There are a lot of guys in that dressing room who could have been named captain, so I’m excited to get the opportunity,” he said. “It’s sort of the style I’ve played all of my life. I’ve worn a few ‘C’s and ‘A’s in minor hockey. I think it’s just who I am and what I bring to the table.”