Spruce Kings Shoot Down Birds 4-1

Brady Shaw scored the lone goal for the Surrey Eagles in a 4-1 loss at the hands of the Prince George Spruce Kings on Thursday night in PG. For Prince George, the game marked the fourth victory over the Birds this season.

The Spruce Kings came out hard at the start of the game, and Lyndon Martell gave the home team the lead just before the midway mark of the first on the power play with a slap shot from the right point that found its way past Michael Santaguida. Prince George doubled its lead less than two minutes later when Chad Staley knocked home the rebound of a Jeremiah Luedtke wrister. The Kings had a chance to take a 3-0 lead later in the period when Coltyn Hansen was sprung in on a breakaway, but Santaguida made a right pad save to keep the Eagles within two.

Surrey pulled to within one early in the middle frame when Shaw danced into the slot and beat Prince George net minder Kirk Thompson for his 27th goal of the season. Shaw is now tied with Adam Tambellini for the team lead in goals. Santaguida was called on again before the end of the second when he made another nice save on Hansen who got the puck at the top of the crease but couldn't ripple the mesh.

Prince George pulled away in the third, getting a pair of goals from Shayne Morrissey and affiliate player Liam Blackburn who netted his first BCHL goal on the power play at 10:21. Surrey captain Brett Mulcahy dropped the mitts with 5:45 to go in the third, but Prince George's Cam Lawson didn't oblige him, and Mulcahy was given nine minutes in penalties and ejected from the game while Lawson received a two minute minor for roughing.

The Spruce Kings out shot the Eagles 38-32. Surrey went 0-for-4 on the power play while Prince George was 2-for-8. The Birds played with a shortened bench as Tambellini, Demico Hannoun, William Clark, Tommy Stipancik, Troy Paterson and Glenn Ferguson were all absent from the line-up.

The two teams will meet for the final time in the regular season on Saturday, February 8th at the South Surrey Arena. The Eagles return to action this Saturday, February 2nd when they host the Langley Rivermen. The puck drops at 7:00pm. Call 604-531-GOAL (4625) for tickets.

Official 3 Stars:
1. Kirk Thompson - Prince George
2. Liam Blackburn - Prince George
3. Cam Lawson - Prince George

My 3 Stars:
1. Cam Lawson - Prince George
2. Kirk Thompson - Prince George
3. Brett Mulcahy - Surrey

Pre-Game Report: Eagles at Spruce Kings

The Surrey Eagles will pay their fourth and final visit of the season to the Prince George Coliseum on Thursday night to face the Prince George Spruce Kings. The game is the seventh of eight meetings between the teams this year. Each hockey club has picked up three wins, although all of Prince George's wins have come in regulation time while Surrey's three victories were all in overtime.

The Birds are riding a three game winning streak after defeating the Chilliwack Chiefs, Langley Rivermen and Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively. The Eagles were without eight regulars in the line-up against Salmon Arm and were out shot 38-21 but managed to escape with a 2-1 overtime win. Surrey currently sits in first in the Mainland Division. The Birds have a three point cushion on second place Chilliwack and are 11 points ahead of the Spruce Kings heading into tonight's action.

Prince George sits in third in the division but has struggled of late as the Spruce Kings have lost four of their last five. Most recently, Prince George lost 4-3 in overtime to the Coquitlam Express on Sunday. Spruce Kings goaltender and Surrey native Kirk Thompson has played well against the Eagles this season. The 20-year-old only has two shut-outs on the year, but they've both come against Surrey, and Thompson has only allowed nine goals in six games against the Birds.

Where: Prince George Coliseum

When: 7:00pm

How to listen: Prince George Broadcast

How to watch: Fast Hockey

The Matt Erhart Show: January 30, 2013

This week, the Head Coach and GM of the Eagles talks about winning three games in three days despite a depleted roster, Jordan Klimek's commitment to Northern Michigan and Surrey's next two games against divisional opponents the Prince George Spruce Kings and the Langley Rivermen.

Klimek Headed to Northern Michigan

For immediate release: January 29, 2013

Surrey, BC - The Surrey Eagles Hockey Club is pleased to announce that defenseman Jordan Klimek has committed to attend Northern Michigan University, beginning in the 2014-2015 season.

Currently in his rookie season in the BCHL, the 17-year-old has scored five goals and 11 assists in 39 games. The Langley native also has three overtime winners, most recently scoring to lift the Birds to a 2-1 win over Salmon Arm last Sunday.

"He is a very talented young player that is only going to keep getting better," said Eagles Head Coach and GM Matt Erhart. "Throughout this season he's made some huge strides defensively, and at the same time, he's scored some big goals for us. We're very happy for Jordan. He's going to be a great college hockey player, and I think Northern Michigan is a great fit for him."

Northern Michigan is located in the city of Marquette. The Wildcats play in the NCAA's Division I Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

"I'm very excited about it," said Klimek of the commitment. "It took a bit there to decide where I wanted to go, but I'm really excited about Northern Michigan and my future there. I really like the coaching staff there."

Klimek becomes the 11th member of the Eagles to commit to an NCAA school, joining Devon Toews (Quinnipiac, 2013), Michael Stenerson (Alaska Anchorage, 2013), Brady Shaw (Bentley, 2013), Michael Santaguida (Vermont, 2013), Craig Wyszomirski (Merrimack, 2013), Adam Tambellini (North Dakota, 2013), Dan O'Keefe (Yale, 2014), Brett Mulcahy (Holy Cross, 2014), Drew Best (Vermont, 2014) and Demico Hannoun (Michigan Tech, 2014).

The Eagles would like to congratulate Klimek on his accomplishment.

Weekend Highlights vs. Chilliwack, Langley and Salmon Arm

Make sure to click HD for the best quality viewing on highlights of Eagles home games. Road highlights courtesy of the Chilliwack Chiefs.

Birds Back in the Top 20

After three straight wins this past week, the Surrey Eagles have made it back into the CJHL's list of the top 20 Junior A teams in Canada. The Birds were ranked at #14 on the list back on January 14th, and this week the Eagles come in at #17.

Here's the press 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 January 28th. Last week’s rankings and the leagues in which the teams belong to are in parenthesis.

The CJHL Weekly Top 20 as of Monday, January 28th

1. (1) Brooks Bandits(AJHL)
2. (2) Minnesota Wilderness(SIJHL)
3. (3) Summerside Western Capitals(MHL)
4. (6) Victoria Grizzlies(BCHL)
5. (5) Trenton Golden Hawks(OJHL)
6. (11)Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)
7. (9) Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners(MHL)
8. (10) Truro Bearcats(MHL)
9. (7) Buffalo Jr. Sabres(OJHL)
10. (8) Dauphin Kings(MJHL)
11. (4) Yorkton Terriers(SJHL)
12. (12) Penticton Vees (BCHL)
13. (HM) Georgetown Raiders(OJHL)
14. (17) Winnipeg Blues(MJHL)
15. (16) Soo Thunderbirds(NOJHL)
16. (18) North Bay Trappers(NOJHL)
17. (NR) Surrey Eagles(BCHL)
18. (19) Ottawa Jr. Senators(CCHL)
19. (12)Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)
20. (20) College Francais de Longueuil(LHJAAAQ)

Honourable Mention goes to the Melville Millionaires (SJHL), OCN Blizzard (MJHL), Sudbury Nickel Barons (NOJHL), Carleton Place Canadiens (CCHL), Amherst Ramblers (MHL).

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.

Klimek Sinks Silverbacks Again

Photo courtesy of VSBN.ca

Jordan Klimek scored his second overtime winner against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks this season to lift the Surrey Eagles to a 2-1 comeback win on Sunday afternoon. Klimek also netted the game winner  in Surrey's 3-2 win back on November 9th at the Shaw Centre. After Sunday's victory, the Birds now sit three points up on the Chilliwack Chiefs for first place in the Mainland Division.

Despite the eventual result, the Silverbacks outplayed the Eagles throughout most of the game. Salmon Arm fired 14 shots on Michael Santaguida in the first period while the Birds only mustered three attempts on 'Backs net minder Angus Redmond. Steven Iacobellis put Salmon Arm ahead with less than two minutes to go in the opening frame when he backhanded the rebound of a Brayden Sherbinin point shot past Santaguida, giving the Silverbacks a 1-0 lead after one.

The Eagles, who were already playing with a depleted roster, lost Colton Mackie for the game just over five minutes into the second when he was given a game misconduct after a hit from behind on Mitchell Ferguson on the end boards. Salmon Arm continued to pour on the pressure, but Santaguida was equal to the task, turning aside all 11 shots he faced in the middle frame. His most notable save of the stanza came around the midway mark of the period when he sprawled on his chest along the goal line to prevent Iacobellis from burying a second goal. The Birds managed only nine shots through the first 40 minutes of play.

Surrey captain Brett Mulcahy nearly tied the game early in the third when his wrist shot from the slot hit both goal posts before bouncing back out into play. Looking for an equalizer, Eagles Head Coach Matt Erhart elected to move Devon Toews up to play forward in the third period, and the decision paid off as Toews tied the game at 10:51, hammering a slap shot past Redmond from just inside the Salmon Arm blue line off the rush. The Silverbacks had a great chance to retake the lead right at the end of regulation when Sherbinin attempted a wrap around at the right post, but Santaguida hugged the iron and made the save, forcing overtime.

Klimek ended the game 2:55 into the first extra period in controversial fashion when he poked a rebound from under the glove of Redmond into the Salmon Arm goal. The Silverbacks complained that the goal should not have been allowed, but referee Eric Dasti decided it was a good goal, and the Eagles celebrated their third victory in as many days.

Neither team was able to score on the man advantage as both clubs went 0-for-4 on the power play. Salmon Arm out shot the Birds 38-21 in a losing cause. Surrey's 21 shots tied a season low for shots on goal in a game.

The Eagles were without Brady Shaw, Adam Tambellini, Demico Hannoun, Joel Gaudet, William Clark, Tommy Stipancik, Troy Paterson and Glenn Ferguson. Surrey will return to action on Thursday evening in Prince George against the Spruce Kings.

Official 3 Stars:
1. Michael Santaguida - Surrey
2. Devon Toews - Surrey
3. Steven Iacobellis - Surrey

My 3 Stars:
1. Devon Toews - Surrey
2. Michael Santaguida - Surrey
3. Brayden Sherbinin - Salmon Arm