The Langley Rivermen won a pair of one-goal decisions — one via overtime and the other a shutout — as they opened the BCHL season over the weekend.
“Pretty happy, they closed out two games, so I can’t complain,” said Rivermen coach Bobby Henderson.
“We defended really well, both our goalies put in solid performances and we got a couple of timely goals.”
The junior A hockey club was in Chilliwack at the Prospera Centre for the BCHL Showcase Event. It was the second consecutive season the league’s 16 teams opened the season under the same arena roof.
In the team’s opener on Friday night, captain Mitch McLain played overtime hero with the decisive goal 22 seconds into the extra period in a 4-3 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Brendon Kearney, the game’s first star, had an impressive debut scoring twice.
Matt Ustaski had the other Langley goal.
Goaltender James Barr made 22 saves for the victory.
The team’s second game came on Sunday against the Merritt Centennials and goaltender Brock Crossthwaite stopped all 22 shots he faced in a 1-0 win.
The game’s lone goal was a second-period power-play marker from defenceman Mark Whiteley.
Henderson was impressed his team found a way to close out both victories.
“Early in the year, teams tend to find ways to lose games, so to win both is great,” he said.
The team’s latest addition, Will Cook, paid big dividends, leading the Rivermen with three assists over the weekend.
Cook was picked up from the Coquitlam Express in exchange for future considerations.
The six-foot-one forward had eight goals and 17 points in 46 games last season.
The Rivermen will look to improve to 3-0 when they visit the South Surrey Arena on Friday (Sept. 13) against the Surrey Eagles.
•••••
The puck drops on the Aldergrove Kodiaks junior B hockey season tomorrow (Wednesday) night at the Aldergrove Arena.
The Kodiaks begin the Pacific Junior Hockey League season with a home game against the North Vancouver Wolf Pack.
Game time is 7:15 p.m.
