A three-point game from Brendan Gulka helped the Langley Rivermen pick up their first victory of the season.
Gulka scored twice in the third period — including the game-winner — to break a 4-4 tie and send the Rivermen to a 7-4 victory over the Vernon Vipers on Sunday afternoon at Vernon’s Kal Tire Place.
The win improved the junior A hockey club to 1-2-0-0.
“I want to contribute more to the team this season,” said Gulka, a 20-year-old forward who matched his entire goal output from last season when he scored twice in 32 games.
“Not just on the fighting side of it, but more with points, so in the off-season I worked on my shot and getting to the areas where the goals are scored.”
After Jacob Zeleznikar gave the Rivermen a 1-0 lead after one period, Vernon scored twice to take a 2-1 lead. But the Langley power play came through with both Kevan Kilistoff and Gage Torrel both bulging the twine prior to intermission.
“Our power play got a lot of work in practice,” said Rivermen assistant coach Kurt Astle.
“It was a pleasure to see that hard work pay off.”
Langley had a full week off practice since their last game.
The teams combined for six goals in the final period with Vernon tying the score at three and then at four. The Vipers had no answer after Gulka’s 5-4 goal, which game with eight minutes to play.
“Resiliency is something we’ve been getting across to our guys,” Astle said.
“When we get scored on, we just have to push back, that was another big focus for us all week.”
Will Cook added an insurance marker and Marcus Vela scored into the empty net to round out the scoring.
Vela, who found his name on NHL Central Scouting’s initial players to watch list released last week, finished with a goal and two helpers. Cook also finished with three points.
In goal, Darren Martin stopped 23 of the 27 shots he faced.
Langley also did a much better job staying out of the penalty box.
The team was short-handed a dozen times in their season opener — surrendering a pair of goals — but cut that down to six short-handed opportunities in game two, and then just three in Sunday’s win. They have not allowed a power-play goal since that first game.
The Rivermen play their home opener on Saturday (Oct. 4) as they welcome the Nanaimo Clippers to the Langley Events Centre.
The first 1,500 fans will receive a free foam finger. Fans will also get two-for-one entry to the game with a donation to the food bank.
Some of the opening game festivities will also include a carnival themed area in the banquet hall, as well as face-painting, balloon animals, food and prizes.
