The Langley Rivermen began a 6-game road trip this week, first rolling into Alberni Valley on Wednesday to take on the Bulldogs for the second time this season.
Langley trailed 2-0 after 20 minutes of play, and the Bulldogs added another with 9:13 gone in the middle frame to lead 3-0. Three minutes later, Tanner Winegard let a shot go from the left point on the power play for his 5th of the season, cutting the lead to 3-1 after 40 minutes of play.
With 3:15 gone in the third period, Harshaan Kaila scored his first BCHL goal on a great handeye coordination play in front of the Bulldogs net to make it 3-2.
1:56 after Kaila’s goal, Aaron Reierson would score his 19th goal of the season to make it 3-3 early in the third period. However exactly 1 minute after Reierson’s equalizer the Bulldogs would score the eventual game winner off the stick of Jacob Terpstra. Langley would push to tie it again late but their comeback bid would fall short.
Langley then rolled into Nanaimo to take on the Clippers on Saturday, and came out flying early in the first period.
The Rivermen took the game to Nanaimo early, taking an early shot advantage and keeping the home team’s defense under pressure. The pressure would finally payoff as Aaron Reierson would score his 20th goal of the season a snipe from the slot, making it 1-0 Rivermen with 2:24 remaining in the first period, a lead Langley would take to the dressing room after 20.
5:19 into the second period, Ben Davis would fire one from the left circle beating Clippers goaltender Dryden Riley for his third goal of the season and a 2-0 Langley lead.
50 seconds after Davis’ goal, Zachary Benayon would bank in his own rebound from a tight angle on the right wing side to make it 3-0 Rivermen early in the second period.
Nanaimo would make it a two goal game just after the midway mark of the second period, to make it 3-1. Dylan Johnson was excellent on Saturday for the visitors, stopping 18 shots in the middle frame, as Langley also had to kill off a full two minute 5 on 3 to take a two goal lead to the third.
It would remain 3-1 until there was around 5 minutes to play, when Nanaimo’s Indiana Grossbard scored his second of the game, and the Clippers would fire everything at the Rivermen net late on and make a big push, but Langley were able to stave off the waves of pressure to win the game 3-2.
On Sunday, Langley traveled to Victoria to take on the Grizzlies for the second time in the last 8 days in the home side’s annual Teddy Bear Toss game.
It was a back and forth first period with both teams trading chances and getting opportunities but it was the visitors who got the first goal of the game.
Langley captain Darius Bachler broke down the left wing and let a shot fly that was initially saved by Grizzlies goaltender Spencer Michnik, but Parker Forlin connected on the rebound in tight for his 5th of the season and a 1-0 Rivermen lead.
Victoria were able to tie it 3:50 later on a nice three way passing play to get the fur flying from the stands and tie it at 1-1 to end the first period.
Like the first period it was end to end action to start the second period, but Victoria scored two goals in 2:05 to lead 3-1 after 40.
Langley came out firing in the third period. 1:09 into the final frame Aaron Reierson scored for the 6th consecutive game, a one timer from the slot on a feed from Zachary Benayon making it 3-2.
7 minutes after Reierson’s goal, Parker Forlin scored on a rebound for his second of the game, tying it at 3-3 with 8:52 gone in the third period.
Four minutes later Ben Davis scored a shot from just inside the Grizzlies blueline to make it 4-3 Rivermen.
8 seconds after Davis’s goal Paul Wiczek fired a shot from the right wing side for his first goal in the BCHL, extending their lead to 5-3.
1:09 after Wiczek’s goal, Benayon tipped in a Brody Juck point shot for his 17th of the season, and a 6-3 Rivermen lead.
Davis would fire a shot from his own zone into the empty net for his second of the game, 5th of the season, and a 7-3 Rivermen lead, and Langley would hang on to win their second game of the weekend. The Rivermen are now 9-5-0-0 on the road this year.
The Rivermen continue their 6 game road trip on Friday in Okotoks, and Saturday in Brooks, Alberta.
