September was a month with many ups and downs for the Rivermen as they concluded the first 8 games of the 2018/19 season with a record of 4-4-0-0. Along this stretch, a few Langley players have been able to turn some heads around the league. Wisconsin commit Ethan Leyh kick-started the offence and Braedon Fleming kept the puck out of the net for a Rivs team that has shown many bright spots in the opening month.
In the 2018/19 BCHL season opener, the Rivermen played host to the Penticton Vees. The Vees came into the season as the #1 ranked team in the CJHL Pre-Season Power Rankings. In his first game in the BCHL, rookie Mark Gallant bagged his first career hat-trick en route to a 5-2 victory for Langley. The Rivs improved to 2-0-0-0 on the back of a shut-out from Fleming in a 2-0 win over the Coquitlam Express.
The next weekend, the Rivermen lost back-to-back games to the Chilliwack Chiefs in a home and home series between the two division rivals. Losses by the score of 4-2 and 5-2 set Langley back to a 2-2-0-0 record.
The Rivs then showed well during the 2018 Bauer BCHL Showcase, defeating the Trail Smoke Eaters 4-1 and the Merritt Centennials 4-2 in Chilliwack. Ethan Leyh finished a strong showcase with 3 goals in 2 games. The month was then capped off with a 5-2 loss to Coquitlam on the road and a 4-3 loss to the Prince George Spruce Kings at home.
Going into October, Leyh currently leads the team with 6 points at 4 goals and 2 assists. Right behind him are Chase Pletzke and Devin Leduc with 5 points each. Fleming currently sits 6th in the league in Goals Against Average at 2.21.
The Rivermen will be on the road in Powell River on October 6th to take on the Kings and then head to Duncan the following day to face the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Langley returns home to the Lodge on Friday, October 12th, to face off against the division rival Surrey Eagles at 7:15pm. The next night on October 13th, the Rivs welcome the Wenatchee Wild to town for a 7:15pm puck drop.
Tickets for home games can be purchased at the George Preston Recreation Centre “The Lodge” box office 45 minutes before puck drop and by calling 604-229-2352 or emailing tickets@langleyrivermen.com.
