After scuffling along the last two weekends – winning just one of the five games against conference rivals – the Surrey Eagles bounced back in a big way last week, and now head into the holiday break on a four-game win streak.
The Eagles won each of its games last week, beginning with a 4-1 victory over the Powell River Kings Wednesday at South Surrey Arena. On Friday in Victoria, the Eagles beat the struggling Grizzlies 5-2, and followed up with a 6-5 edging of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs Saturday and a 2-1 win Sunday over the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings.
The Eagles are now 6-3-1 in the last 10 games, and improved their record on home ice, where they are now 13-2-1-2 on the season. Surrey currently sits in second place in the BC Hockey League’s Coastal Conference, three points shy of the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
Wednesday against Powell River, the Eagles’ power play and starting goaltender paced the attack; the team scored three of its four goals with the man-advantage, and netminder Andrew Hunt stopped 42 of 43 Powell River shots.
The home team’s penalty killers were not slouches either, shutting out the Powell River power play on eight chances.
The Eagles got goals from four different players – Brandon Morley, Charles Orzetti, Sean McGovern and Alex Hagen. Defenceman Devon Toews, named the game’s second star, chipped in with two assists.
Friday in Victoria, captain Tyler Morley led the team with a pair of goals – giving him a team-best 18 on the season – while Brandon Tanev, Brandon Morley and Hagen also found the back of the net.
Newcomer Brayden Jaw, who was signed after starting the season in Nanaimo, continued to impress with his new team, picking up a pair of assists. The 19-year-old, Harvard-bound forward has five helpers in six games with the Eagles.
Hagan, the Eagles’ other recent addition to the forward ranks, has four goals and seven points since joining the team in a trade from the Vernon Vipers.
Back at home Friday, McGovern had a goal and an assist against Alberni Valley, while Robert Lindores had a goal and two helpers to lead the attack.
Neither team scored in the opening 20 minutes, but rather than continue as a defence-first affair, the game blew apart in the second period, with the Eagles scoring four – including McGovern’s shorthanded marker – and the Bulldogs adding two.
The visitors scored three more in the third, including two in the first three minutes to briefly tie the game, but Hagen and Demico Hannoun restored the Eagles’ lead soon after.
Conor Barrie earned the win between the pipes for the Eagles, who don’t play again until after Christmas; they host Cowichan Dec. 29.
Surrey wrapped up its busy but impressive week with Sunday’s win over Prince George.
After a one-game break, Hunt was back in net for the Birds, stopping 29 shots; Spruce Kings’ Michael Betz was the only player to beat him for a goal.
Orzetti and McGovern were the goal-scorers for the Eagles. After McGovern’s goal, which opened the scoring 2:27 into the first period, the ice was littered with stuffed toys as part of the Eagles’ annual Teddy Bear Toss event, which collected the stuffed toys for charity.