Three games in less than 72 hours resulted in three points for the Langley Rivermen.
The junior A hockey club started with a 5-4 victory over the Coquitlam Express, but then lost 3-2 in double overtime to the Nanaimo Clippers and then 3-1 in regulation to the Surrey Eagles to wrap up a whirlwind weekend.
Langley is third in the BCHL’s Mainland Division at 2-3-0-1.
The Clippers game was also the home opener for the Rivermen at the Langley Events Centre and the 3,000-plus fans were treated to some end-to-end action in the second overtime, which features the teams playing three-on-three.
“It was exciting back-and-forth hockey,” said Langley assistant coach Kurt Astle.
“That’s what the fans came to see.
“I thought our guys generated opportunities, but it came down to execution and their goalie stood on his head and I tip my hat to him.
“We were on the wrong side of a few unlucky bounces.”
Twice in the 3-on-3 overtime, the Rivermen were in all alone on Nanaimo goaltender Guillaume Decelles. He stoned Evan Anderson on the first chance, and on the second, Gage Torrel pinged the puck off the crossbar.
And with less than 30 seconds to play in the game, Nanaimo’s Sheldon Rempal scored off a scramble in front of Rivermen goalie Bo Didur to get the visitors the extra point.
Didur was called into action in the first minute of the third after Darren Martin was helped off the ice. Martin hurt his leg in a goal-mouth collision.
Didur stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced.
“Well it was exciting for the fans that’s for sure,” said Clippers head coach and general manager Mike Vandekamp.
“The 3-on-3 is just mayhem as far as I’m concerned but it’s an exciting way for the game to end.”
“My heart was racing,” said Anderson. “To hear those fans was pretty exciting; it’s too bad we didn’t get the win.”
Langley’s goals came from Will Cook, on the game’s opening shift, and Brendan Gulka, who scored a short-handed goal.
Sandwiched in between was a power-play marker from Nanaimo’s Brendan Taylor for a 2-1 Langley lead after one.
The only other goal in regulation was an unassisted marker from Ryan Forbes in the second period.
The Rivermen struggled with penalty trouble as they were whistled for seven infractions.
“That’s something we’re still working on,” said Astle.
Against Surrey the next afternoon at the South Surrey Arena, Ryan Coulter had the lone Langley goal in the 3-1 defeat.
Joseph Drapluk — on the power play — Ben Vikich and John Wesley had the Eagles goals as they won for the first time this season.
In Coquitlam on Friday night, Torrel had a pair of goals and an assist while Kevan Kilistoff and Jake Zeleznikar had two points apiece.
Didur stopped 28 shots for the win.
Coquitlam was led by Corey Mackin, who scored three goals. Cameron Bertsch had the other Express goal.
The Rivermen hit the road for a pair of games this week in Prince George on both Thursday and Friday.
The team’s next home game is Oct. 15 when Surrey visits the LEC.
