If Saturday night is any indication, local hockey fans could be in for a treat this season.
Led by six goals and 13 points from their top line, the Langley Rivermen rolled over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 7-0 on Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre in the junior A hockey club’s home opener for the BCHL season.
Ben Butcher (three goals, one assist), Mario Puskarich (two goals, three assists) and Evan Campbell (one goal, three assists) did the bulk of the damage, but Langley coach Bobby Henderson was pleased with the efforts of his entire roster.
“All four lines were rolling, our defence was good and our goaltending was excellent,” he said.
“It was a complete game for us.
“This was a glimpse of how the team is able to play.”
A big part of the team’s success on the night came from a deadly power play which burned the ’Dogs for three goals on 11 chances.
Austin Azurdia and Puskarich struck for man advantage goals in the first period.
Butcher and Puskarich extended the lead to 4-0 in the second period.
The third period saw Butcher tally twice more with a goal from Campbell sandwiched in between.
Bo Pellah both had three assists.
James Barr stopped all 21 shots he faced for the shutout.
Henderson said the fact the team was able to pump in seven goals will be good for its confidence.
The Rivermen head out on the road this weekend for a pair of games, Friday in Merritt and Saturday in Salmon Arm.
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Langley Rivermen defenceman Bo Pellah is on the National Hockey League’s radar.
The NHL’s Central Scouting Service unveiled its North American and international preliminary player list on Sept. 19 and Pellah was one of six BCHLers to make the cut.
Pellah, a second-year defenceman from New Westminster, was awarded a ‘C’ grade.
‘C’ grade prospects are projected as fourth-to-seventh round draft picks.
The 17-year-old has six points in three games so far this season for the Rivermen. Last year, he played 57 games and had three goals and 25 points.
The six-foot-one 165-pounder will attend Penn State in 2014 on scholarship.
The 2013 NHL Entry Draft is scheduled from June 28 and 29 at the Prudential Centre in New Jersey.
