About 14 hours after skating to a 5-4 overtime victory over Coquitlam Express in an evening BC Hockey League game on April 9, Powell River Kings returned to the ice for an afternoon contest versus Surrey Eagles on April 10.
Any momentum gained via the comeback win the day before was dashed early. Eagles scored twice in a 43 second span in the first period to take a 2-0 lead they would never relinquish.
Ethan Riesterer gave the Kings life early in the second period, notching his second goal in as many games at the 56-second mark to cut the lead in half.
Surrey goaltender Max Prazma was perfect from then on, turning aside all shots that followed, while his team exploded for three goals in the middle frame and another trio in the third for an 8-1 win.
Thomas Wardle stopped 16 of 21 shots over two periods for Powell River, before giving way to Jakob Drapeau, who took over for the third period and made eight saves. Prazma stopped 21 of 22 shots.
Former King Michael Abgrall scored one of the third-period goals for the Eagles, his second of the season.
Kings have a day off before facing Coquitlam on Monday, April 12, also at Scotia Barn.
BCHL withdraws from CJHL
The BCHL announced Friday evening it has withdrawn from the Canadian Junior Hockey League, the governing body for the 10 Junior A hockey leagues in Canada.
In a statement on its social media accounts, the BCHL said it would, however, continue its partnerships with Hockey Canada and BC Hockey.
The CJHL responded with a statement of its own, affirming its commitment to the nine remaining leagues under its umbrella, as well as participation in the Centennial Cup national championship, the World Junior A Challenge tournament and its annual prospects game.
While it’s immediately unclear what the BCHL’s move means, reports in recent weeks had suggested a new affiliation with the Alberta Junior Hockey League as well as the 14-team US Hockey League may be in the works. Neither of those organizations has made any kind of announcement.
~ With files from Tri-City News
