Surrey Eagles have been busy in the valley recently, travelling to Abbotsford and Chilliwack for the British Columbia Hockey League Showcase.
The annual event, which headed south to Seattle last year, came back to Chilliwack this season – and this time Abbotsford and the Canucks organization joined the party. The Chilliwack Coliseum and the Abbotsford Centre share hosting duties for the event, which started Sunday (Oct. 13) and runs through Thursday (Oct. 17); it features at least one game for all 21 BCHL teams.
Surrey Eagles play twice in the BCHL Showcase – the team won 4-2 over Alberta’s Sherwood Park Sunday (Oct. 13) in Abbotsford, with two goals from forward Brandon Gill and two assists from Sihwan Kim among the game's highlights.
They next play Powell River Wednesday (Oct. 16) at the Chilliwack Coliseum.
An event primarily for scouts to gather and learn more about the top prospects that the BCHL offers, the showcase is always popular.
BCHL commissioner Steven Cocker told Black Press Media that working with the Canucks organization will raise the bar on the event’s perception.
“The Canucks have really got behind this event,” he said. “From ticket sponsorship to community engagement, working with them has been fantastic, and I think we’re really going to see an elevated and enhanced fan experience. They have really been putting some power behind it to make sure we get a lot of fans in the seats.”
Chilliwack has hosted the showcase every year since its inception in 2012, but last year the BCHL worked with the Seattle Kraken organization to bring it south for the first time.
One of the bigger storylines in the junior hockey world over the past few years has been the BCHL’s departure from Hockey Canada and the decision made by five Alberta Junior Hockey League teams to follow suit.
The Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints all joined the BCHL in February, and this marks the first full BCHL season for all those clubs. It’s also the first time these teams will appear at the Showcase.
Cocker said the Alberta teams have fit in well.
“It’s been fantastic,” he said, noting he had just visited all five teams in late September.
“We have five organizations that truly think the way that the BCHL thinks. We want to develop kids for college, get them scholarships and moving them on as quick as we can.
“We want to be that development system for the NCAA. They have all been in lockstep with our 16 BCHL franchises. There were some growing pains, just some adjustments and getting each franchise up to speed, but it’s gone well.”
Last year's Fred Page Cup-winning team, Surrey Eagles had about half their players return. Ex-NHLer head coach and general manager Scott Gomez, with assistant coach Mike Mottau and the rest of the coaching staff, have been working closely with the team since training camp, prior to the season's start.
"I couldn't be happier with the players. They're awesome. The locker room is fantastic. As a coach, it's fun to see," he said Tuesday.
"It's a process. We've still got a long way to go, ... and that's the fun part about it. I believe every game should be a showcase game."
Surrey Eagles play the Powell River Kings Wednesday (Oct. 16) in Chilliwack at 10 a.m. before returning home to their Olympic-sized home ice at South Surrey Arena, 2199 148 St. to play Alberta's Spruce Grove Saints at 7 p.m.
For tickets or more information, visit surreyeagles.net
– with files from Ben Lypka
