The final home weekend of the Langley Rivermen 2023/24 season kicked off Saturday night with a matchup against the Nanaimo Clippers.
Langley got the scoring going five minutes into the game thanks to Logan Morrell, who scored his 13th of the season off a redirection in front of a Carsten Kayter point shot.
The Rivermen kept the pressure on, and doubled their lead with three minutes to go in the first thanks to Vitaly Levyy, who cashed in a great odd man rush by sniping home his 21st of the season, and Langley would go into the second period up 2-0.
Nanaimo would get a goal back late in the second period with three minutes to go, off a quick rush on the power play making it 2-1.
However, Ryan Schelling would continue his strong play with a goal 3:16 into the third period making it 3-1. Oskar Komarov made it 4-1 with a snipe from the slot at the 11-minute mark of the third period, scoring his 17th of the season.
The Clippers would get one back with 2:59 to go, but the Rivermen would close out the game winning 4-2.
“I liked our compete on Saturday against Nanaimo, it is never an easy game but we battled hard to get in front, and played excellent defensively to get the win,” said Rivermen head coach and general manager Tyler Kuntz post game.
Langley’s opposition on Sunday in the Surrey Eagles, scored early at 3:59 thanks to rookie Miles Burgin.
However, the Rivermen would not be denied, responding quickly after killing off a quick Eagles power play and outshot Surrey the next five minutes, and tied it up with five minutes to go in the first period. Luke Ashton fed Dalton MacGillivray who scored for his fifth consecutive game with a slot shot inside the Eagles zone.
Oskar Komarov would give Langley their first lead of the game 1:34 into the second period, as he beautifully finished off a pass from MacGillivray for his 18th of the season.
Surrey would tie it up 1:50 later on the power play as the Eagles cashed in on an extended 5 on 3 off a one timer from the blueline.
The Rivermen would not be denied in the second period, retaking the lead with 8:31 to go in the middle frame, as Aaron Reierson scored on a breakaway for his 11th of the season.
Surrey would get three unanswered goals in the third and take the final meeting of the season between the two teams 5-3.
“We knew Surrey would be well rested coming into Sunday and give us a good fight and they did, but I liked how we responded in the first and second period when trailing,” said Kuntz.
The Rivermen conclude the regular season on the road this coming weekend, Friday they are in Nanaimo to take on the Clippers, then Saturday against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Playoff dates and tickets are to be announced soon, make sure to tune into the Rivermen social media channels for further info!
– Written by Gideon Hill
