December 1st @ Alberni Valley:
The Rivermen and Bulldogs put on quite the entertaining battle at the Weyerhauser Arena on Saturday night for the fans. It was the third and final meeting this year between the team as Langley held a 2-0 win advantage going into the game. The ‘Dogs would get their first win against the Rivermen in a 4-3 win on teddy bear toss night.
It did not take long for the teddy’s to fly on to the ice as Dylan Haugen opened the scoring on the first shift of the game just 20 seconds in. The ‘Dogs would add to their lead just before the three minute mark on a power play goal from Jared Wilson. It was not the start the Rivermen wanted to have spotting Alberni Valley a two goal lead, but they would not go away quietly. Nathan Craft, who was traded by the ‘Dogs earlier in the week scored against his former club to cut the lead to one. Jakob Reichert stole the puck from behind the Bulldogs net and fed a beautiful pass out in front of the net to Craft who snapped home his sixth goal of the season. With time running out in the first period, the Rivermen would complete the comeback on a power play goal from Mario Puskarich. It was a pretty looking goal as Puskarich finished a fantastic passing play out of the corner from James Robinson and Mark Whiteley.
The ‘Dogs would get their lead back to open up the second period on a goal from Matthew Hansen. The lead would last just under 11 minutes before Trevor Cope tied it up at 3-3. Bulldogs goaltender Jay Deo misplayed the puck behind the goal and put the puck on a platter for Cope who swept the loose puck into the open goal. Under two minutes later Hansen would score his second of the period on a quick snap shot down the left wing that beat James Barr over the right pad.
In the final frame Mitch McLain was hauled down on a breakaway and was rewarded a penalty shot. The Minnesota native tried a stickside shot but was denied by Deo to keep the 4-3 lead. The Rivermen would then have two five on three opportunities, but could not score on either of them and that would be the game.
Deo would stop 27 shots picking up the win, while Barr was charged the loss facing 30 shots. Missed opportunities was the headline for the ‘Men as the power play went 1/11 on the night.
Sunday, December 2nd @ Victoria
The Langley Rivermen got back in the win column with a 5-1 win over the first place Victoria Grizzlies on Sunday afternoon. The team was in the midst of a five game losing streak entering the game and the 'Men took full advantage of a Grizzlies squad who was playing their third game in three days. James Barr would receive his fourth straight start for the Rivermen, while Michael Stiliadis got the call for the 'Grizz.
The Grizzlies came out flying in the first few minutes, but James Barr was able to weather the storm and make a few key stops to keep it scoreless. The Rivermen would build off that momentum and opened the scoring on a power play goal from Mario Puskarich. The veteran winger made a spectacular toe drag move around a Victoria defender in the high slot and ripped a snap shot along the ice for his 15th goal of the year. The Rivermen were out shot 12-6 in the opening frame, but would take a 1-0 lead into the second period. It was a fantastic period for James Barr as the coaching staff hoped he would bounce back after Saturday nights loss in Alberni Valley and he responded perfectly.
The second period would be the best 20 minutes of hockey of the weekend for the Rivermen. Just over the four-minute mark , James Robinson would score his much anticipated first BCHL goal. The Alberta native has been snakebitten all season long, but he was able to take a pass from Evan Campbell off his skate and ended up in the back of the goal. Not how he drew it up, but he would definitely take it. Robinson was not done hitting the score sheet as shortly after he stripped a Victoria player of the puck in the attacking zone and set up Evan Anderson for his third goal in a Rivermen uniform. That play was hard work personified as Robinson did not stop moving his feet the entire shift and put a picture perfect pass on the tape of Anderson. The 'Men would cap off the scoring with 40 seconds left courtesy of Puskarich who potted home his second of the game on the power play again. Thomas Nitsche fired a one timer that missed the net,but the puck took a lively hop off the end boards and landed right on the stick of Langley's leading scorer who was all alone in the slot with an empty net.
With a commanding 4-0 lead enter
