The Matt Erhart Show: October 31, 2012

Shaw Commits to Bentley

For immediate release: October 29, 2012

The Surrey Eagles are thrilled to announce that 20-year-old forward Brady Shaw has committed to attend Bentley University, beginning in the 2013-2014 season.

The Ottawa, Ontario native joined the Birds on October 19th after being acquired from Coquitlam. Since the trade, Shaw has put up six points in three games with Surrey.

"While Brady has only been with the Eagles program for a short time, you can tell that he has natural goal scoring ability and big body presence that will translate well at the NCAA level," said Eagles Head Coach and General Manager Matt Erhart. "We're thrilled that Brady has taken the next step in his hockey career and look forward to having him as a part of our team and working with him to help prepare him for the next level."

Bentley University is located in Waltham, Massachusetts -- just northwest of Boston. The Falcons play in the NCAA's Division I Atlantic Hockey Conference, and Shaw is looking forward to playing there.

"I chose Bentley because their academics are second to none. They have a really good business program that I'm really excited about," said Shaw. "It's also a chance to play in a competitive conference, and I feel it will fit my style of game well. They're giving me an opportunity to go in and be an impact guy right away, so it was an offer that I couldn't refuse."

Shaw becomes the fourth member of the Eagles to commit to an NCAA school, joining Devon Toews (Quinnipiac, 2013), Michael Stenerson (Alaska Anchorage, 2013) and Dan O'Keefe (Yale, 2014).

The Surrey Eagles Hockey Club would like to congratulate Shaw on his accomplishment.

Eagles Off To WJAC Camp

The Surrey Eagles will return to practice this week and begin preparing for three games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday against Langley, Merritt and Prince George. But two members of the team -- Michael Stenerson and Devon Toews -- will be in Alberta at the selection camp for Team Canada West. Those chosen to the team will compete in the 2012 World Junior A Challenge.

The two Eagles will be joined at the camp by 23 other players from across the BCHL as well as 18 players from the AJHL, eight from the SJHL, six from the MJHL and three from the SIJHL.

Stenerson was part of the Canada West squad that won the gold medal at last year’s tournament in Langley. The 19-year-old is looking forward to the opportunity to play in the competition again.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “It was a good group of guys last year, and I think there’s five or six returning players. I’ve talked to a couple of guys, and they’re all excited too and ready to get going.”

The Surrey forward, who has 16 points in 15 games this season and has found some chemistry of late with line mates Demico Hannoun and Brady Shaw, is hoping that his experience at the tournament last year will benefit him in his second go around.

“Going into camp knowing what to expect and what the coaches expect is a big advantage,” he said. “They’re looking for good hard Canadian hockey – fast paced and on the body. I think I can bring that.”

Meanwhile, Toews is heading to the selection camp for the first time. The 18-year-old blue liner, who is one of six BCHL defenseman who have been invited to try out, has been leaning on Stenerson for tips about what to expect.

“I’m pumped. I can’t wait,” said Toews. “It’s going to be a great opportunity. I’ve been talking to Stenerson who was there last year, just trying to find little pointers here and there like what helps you during the camp, what to do and what to bring and stuff like that.”

As a result of the camp and the tournament that follows, Eagles Head Coach and General Manager Matt Erhart could be without two of his top players for up to six games. But after both Stenerson and former Eagle Brandon Morley left the team to play in the tournament last year, Erhart has found that it can be an opportunity, not only for the players heading to the camp, but for those who will have to step into more prominent roles while Toews and Stenerson are away.

“I think (Stenerson and Morley) picked up a lot of little things and came back confident, and it coincided with our team making a good run last year,” said Erhart. “The guys came back with some confidence and other guys stepped up into bigger roles in their absence and proved that they could play in those bigger roles. It hurts when they’re gone, but at the same time it allows other guys to get more confidence and then when everybody’s back, we’ll be a more well-rounded team because of it.”

The Canada West camp begins this evening and runs until Thursday. The 2012 World Junior A Challenge will be held in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia from November 5-11.

Puskarich Hat-Trick Lifts Rivermen Over Eagles

Mario Puskarich scored a hat-trick as the Langley Rivermen got a measure of revenge for Friday night's loss, defeating the Surrey Eagles 6-5 at the Langley Events Centre on Saturday. Mason Blacklock had a strong game for the Birds, netting two goals in a losing cause.

The Rivermen got on the board first when Tanner Clarkson scored his first goal in a Langley jersey just 2:10 into the hockey game. Clarkson was acquired from Trail on Thursday. The Eagles answered back just before the midway mark of the period when Mason Blacklock completed a beautiful tic-tac-toe passing play by beating Langley starter Darren Hogg. Nic Pierog and Devon Toews had helpers on the goal. But Langley took the lead again when Mitch McLain was the beneficiary of an odd bounce off the stick of Dan O'Keefe, burying the puck past Michael Santaguida at 13:42. The Rivermen extended their lead with less than two minutes remaining in the period when Puskarich picked up his first of the game, knocking the puck into the Surrey goal after a frantic scramble in the crease.

Surrey responded early in the second when Jordan Klimek scored his first BCHL goal, firing a wrist shot from the left point that found its way past Hogg. Shortly thereafter, Langley regained the two goal lead on the power play after Matt Ustaski redirected Tyler Vanscourt's point shot past Santaguida at 4:18. Surrey scored a power play goal of its own moments later when Brady Shaw and Michael Stenerson completed a pretty give-and-go passing play before Stenerson fed across the crease to Demico Hannoun who tallied his sixth of the year to pull the Birds to within one. Trevor Cameron tied the game at the 15 minute mark when Brett Mulcahy forced a turnover on the fore check and found Cameron in the slot for the goal. Following Surrey's fourth goal, Hogg was pulled from the Langley net in favour of James Barr. It looked like the game would remain tied through 40 minutes, but with just 1:10 to go in the period, Puskarich netted his second to restore the Langley lead.

The Rivermen held the 5-4 advantage until the late stages of the third period when Puskarich completed the hat-trick with an empty netter in the final minute. Mason Blacklock scored his second of the game with seven seconds remaining to pull Surrey back to within one, but the Birds couldn't tie it up in the end.

Barr was credited with the victory for Langley after coming on in relief. He made 11 saves on 12 shots. Michael Santaguida picked up the loss between the pipes for the Eagles, making 30 saves.

Surrey was 1-for-3 with the man advantage while Langley went 1-for-4. The Rivermen out shot the Eagles 37-25.

The Birds will continue their three game road swing on Thursday when they'll visit the LEC once again. The Rivermen, for their part, play on Sunday afternoon in Coquitlam.

Official 3 Stars:
1. Mario Puskarich - Langley
2. Mason Blacklock - Surrey
3. Mark Whiteley - Langley

My 3 Stars:
1. Mario Puskarich - Langley
2. Mason Blacklock - Surrey
3. Mitch McLain - Langley

Pre-Game Report: Eagles at Rivermen

The Surrey Eagles will look for their fourth straight win tonight as they visit the Langley Events Centre to face the Langley Rivermen. The Birds are leading the season series 1-0 after defeating the Rivermen 5-3 in Surrey on Friday evening. This evening's game is the second of three in a row between the Eagles and Rivermen.

Brady Shaw scored twice in Surrey's Friday night win. The newest addition to the nest now has four goals in two games for Surrey and has found some chemistry with line mates Michael Stenerson and Demico Hannoun. Heading into Saturday's action, the Eagles sit in fourth in the Mainland Division with a record of 8-5-0-1, but only three of the team's wins have come against opponents from their own division. Tonight's game is the first of a three game road swing for the Birds as they'll visit Langley again this coming Thursday before heading to Merritt to face the Centennials on Friday night.

The Rivermen mounted a valiant comeback on Friday after going down 4-0 at the South Surrey Arena. Mitch McLain led the charge for the Langley side, scoring twice to pull his team within one goal late in the third. Langley will be desperate for a win on Saturday after losing five of their last six games, dropping to last place in the Mainland Division. Despite the loss, the Rivermen converted twice with the man advantage on Friday.

Where: Langley Events Centre

When: 7:15pm

How to listen: http://ustream.tv/channel/surreyeagleshockey

How to watch: http://fasthockey.com

Birds Beat Rivermen 5-3

Surrey's top line of Brady Shaw, Demico Hannoun and Michael Stenerson combined for eight points as the Eagles won their third in a row by a score of 5-3 over the Langley Rivermen on Friday night at the South Surrey Arena. Shaw scored twice and added an assist while Hannoun had three helpers and Stenerson chipped in with a goal and an assist in the win.

The Birds scored the lone goal of the opening frame at 12:42 when Hannoun knocked the puck loose to Shaw in the right attacking corner. Shaw then fed out front to Stenerson who beat Langley goaltender James Barr for his fifth goal of the season.

Surrey added to its lead early in the second when Shaw netted his ninth of the year, shovelling a rebound into the back of the Rivermen net at 2:42.

In the third, the Eagles scored twice in the first ten minutes of the period. Colton Mackie beat Barr up high off an odd man rush at 3:23. Then Shaw scored his second of the evening on the power play, deflecting Devon Toews' point shot. Barr was given the hook after the 4-0 goal, and the Rivermen answered back quickly. Mitch McLain beat Surrey net minder Michael Santaguida just nine seconds after Shaw's goal, spoiling Santaguida's shutout bid. Langley wasn't done there. At 12:40, Mark Whiteley scored a power play marker after his slap shot from the point deflected off of Toews' stick and in. McLain pulled the Rivermen to within one goal with less than five minutes remaining, knocking home a rebound at the right post while his team had the man advantage. Langley tried hard to find an equalizing goal late in the game, but Mason Blacklock iced the victory for Surrey, scoring his first as an Eagle into the empty net.

The Birds out shot Langley 47-34. Surrey went 1-for-5 on the power play while the Rivermen were 2-for-5.

The two teams will get right back at it on Saturday in Langley. The game gets underway at 7:15pm from the Langley Events Centre. Saturday's game will be the second of three consecutive games between the Eagles and Rivermen as Surrey will also visit Langley on Thursday.

Official 3 Stars:
1. Brady Shaw - Surrey
2. Demico Hannoun - Surrey
3. Mitch McLain - Langley

My 3 Stars:
1. Brady Shaw - Surrey
2. Michael Stenerson - Surrey
3. Mitch McLain - Langley

Pre-Game Report: Eagles vs. Rivermen

The Surrey Eagles will host the Langley Rivermen for the first time this season tonight at the South Surrey Arena. The two teams will face each other eight times over the course of the year. Tonight's game is also the first of three straight agmes against the Rivermen as the Eagles will visit the Langley Events Centre on Saturday and Thursday.

The Birds are riding high after winning both of their games last weekend against Vernon and Trail. It's the first winning streak of the season for the Eagles who currently sit in fourth in the Mainland Division. Brady Shaw will return to the line-up for Surrey after missing Sunday's win over Trail due to an NCAA school visit. Devon Toews was the story in that game against the Smoke Eaters, netting the hat-trick and the double overtime winner.

"It just seemed that everything was going my way," said Toews. "I got a couple of lucky bounces, and the second goal went off one of their players and in. I just got good plays from my teammates that gave me opportunities to score."

The Rivermen won their last game 2-1 in overtime over the Vernon Vipers on Saturday but have lost four of their last five. They currently sit in last in the Mainland Division, one point behind Surrey, with a record of 6-5-0-2. Mario Puskarich leads the team with 14 points in 13 games, followed closely by Austin Azurdia with 13 points and Bo Pellah with 12. All three players have committed to NCAA schools as Puskarich will attend Vermont, Azurdia is going to Connecticut and Pellah has committed to Penn State.

Where: South Surrey Arena

When: 7:00pm

How to listen: http://ustream.tv/channel/surreyeagleshockey or on 88.7FM in the arena

How to watch: http://fasthockey.com