3 out of 6 Points for Rivermen
An extremely depleted, injury riddled Langley Rivermen squad went to battle this weekend for the first of a 3 games in 3 days schedule which saw them face the Coquitlam Express in a Home and Home series followed by a tilt with the Trail Smoke Eaters in the finale on Sunday afternoon.
Langley was able to secure 3 out of a possible 6 points.
It all started on Friday night, as the Rivermen made their first visit of the season to the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex in Coquitlam.
One of the things that has been lacking for the Riv this season in Coach Henderson’s eyes is the team stringing together a full 60-minute effort. Langley has shown serious steps in completing this task and things were looking up for the Rivermen in Fridays game securing a 3-0 lead early into the 3rd period but the resilient Express would not go quietly, tying the game up at 3-3 at one point in the wild and wacky final frame of regulation. Unfortunately, the Riv suffered another injury during the game. Barrow suffered an undisclosed injury when Express defenseman, Jake Brien, hit Barrow in a vulnerable position. Brien received a major for blow to the head and a game misconduct.
Langley would restore the lead late in the game with a goal from Zach Masson but with the Express goaltender pulled for the extra attacker, Express Captain Luca Leone would tie things up with 20.1 seconds to go and send the game to overtime.
During the extra frame, Langley’s John Schuldt received a major penalty for a hit on the boards to Coquitlam forward Cam Bertsch. On the ensuing power play, the Express completed the comeback with a 5-4 victory.
With both teams trying to put the previous meeting in the past, the 2 teams would complete the home and home series at the Lodge on Saturday night.
Langley was looking for a bounce back game and the coaching staff was still looking for a full 60 minute effort. The hometown Rivermen were a complete cohesive unit and found the back of the net 5 times en route to a 5-0 victory.
It was just the answer that the Rivermen brass were looking for as the power play clicked for 2 goals in 4 attempts. Langley had goals from 5 players as Max Kaufman, Brendan Budy, Satchel Clendenin, Harris Pearce and Nic Ponak scored for the Rivermen. Pearce registered his first goal in the BCHL. Bo Didur recorded his first shutout of the season.
Sunday, the Rivermen were looking for much of the same spark they had the previous night as they met the Trail Smoke Eaters for the first of only 2 meetings this season.
Langley started the game well with a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Trail answered back halfway through the second when former Riv defensemen, Troy Ring, got the Smoke Eaters on the board. Trail would score 4 more in the final frame to hand Langley the 5-2 loss.
This week will be a busy one for the Rivermen. On Wednesday, they’ll make the trip up to the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton to face-off against the Vees before returning home to the Lodge for more home action on Friday vs the Vees and again on Saturday night vs the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Friday’s game is a 7:15 PM start and Saturday’s game will start at 6:00 PM.
As for now, you’re up to date. See you at the rink.
