A week after winning just one of three games, the Surrey Eagles continued to struggle last weekend, losing to the Coquitlam Express 4-1 Friday night, and tying them on home ice Saturday, 3-3.
The Eagles are still third in the BC Hockey League’s Coastal Conference, but are just 4-5-1-0 in the last 10 games, and below .500 on the road.
On Friday at Coquitlam’s Poirer Sports and Leisure Centre, the Eagles struck first when newcomer Alex Hagen – acquired in a trade with the Vernon Vipers last week – scored a power-play goal 14:16 into the first period, but the Express tied the game with just over a minute left in the period.
In the second period, the home team broke the game open on goals from Malcolm McKinney and Dante Godhino – with McKinney’s marker coming just 42 seconds into the period – and Godhino tallied his second of the game on a third-period power play.
Eagles’ netminder Andrew Hunt was tagged with the loss, despite stopping 34 shots on net.
The following night, in front of 630 fans at South Surrey Arena, the Eagles again got on the board first when NCAA-bound blue-liner Devon Toews – who signed with Quinnipiac University earlier this month – scored at 10:02 of the first period.
But just like the day before, Coquitlam stormed back before the first intermission, potting a pair courtesy of Alex Petan and John Siemer.
Coquitlam went up 3-1 after a second-period power-play goal from Cody Michelle.
Surrey forward Tyler Morley made it 3-2 later in the second period, and a shorthanded goal from Brett Mulcahy tied the game with 5:09 left in the game.
Neither overtime frame – the first played four-on-four, the second played three-on-three – solved anything.
Another Eagles’ newcomer, 19-year-old forward Brayden Jaw, tallied assisted on all three goals Saturday.
Jaw had been with the Nanaimo Clippers – he had four points in six games – but as he was injured and no longer carded and on the Clips’ official roster, he was free to sign with any team he liked.
The six-foot-two Vancouver native is no stranger to the Peninsula; he played three games for the Eagles during the 2008/09 season.
Jaw is committed to play at Harvard next season.
To make room for Jaw on the roster, the Eagles released D.J. Jones.
Teddy Bear Toss
The Eagles will hold their annual Teddy Bear Toss during Sunday’s home game against the Prince George Spruce Kings.
Fans are encouraged to bring small or medium stuffed toys to the game, and then toss them on the ice after the Eagles’ first goal.
Donations will benefit the Centre for Child Development.
Sunday’s game is set for 4 p.m.