The Langley Rivermen traveled to Vancouver Island this weekend, taking on the Nanaimo Clippers and Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Friday’s game in Nanaimo started well for the Rivermen, as Ryan Schelling scored his 10th goal of the season, making a great move and beating Clippers goaltender Chazz Nixon in tight for a 1-0 Langley lead 3:46 in.
Charlie Tritt was excellent in the Rivermen goal on Friday, and it took until the Clippers 21st shot of the game to tie it on a shot from the left wing with 9:10 gone in the second, and that’s where it would stand until the third period.
Langley would get a couple glorious opportunities in the final minute of the third period but Nixon would keep the game 1-1 forcing overtime.
It wouldn’t take long for the Clippers to win the game, as Cole Lonsdale streaked down the left wing and scored the winner with 19 seconds gone in the extra frame.
Saturday night was a trip out to Alberni Valley for the second time in the last two weeks to take on the Bulldogs.
Things started out well for Langley, and like Friday they took an early lead. Gabriel Guilbault picked off the puck at centre and fed Ethan Merner who streaked up the right-wing side and beat Bulldogs netminder Colin Winn over his glove side for his 7th goal of the season and a big lead for the visitors with 9:21 gone on the clock.
The lead would last until the 2:07 mark of the second period where Alberni Valley would equalize on a shot from the left wing and Jesse Allecia would score his fourth goal of the season with 5:18 to go in the middle frame to give his team the 2-1 lead.
Langley would not be denied in the second period, as they had three power plays and multiple golden opportunities on the Alberni Valley net, but Winn was perfect in the second and third period, turning aside the final 20 shots he faced, and stymied the visitor’s offence ensuring the Bulldogs would come away victorious in front of their home fans. Wyatt Blace scored his second goal of the game into the empty net ensuring a 3-1 win for the hosts.
