Langley Rivermen travelled south of the border for first time in over three seasons to take part in the 2023 BCHL Showcase event in Seattle, beginning a busy week with three games in two countries over five days, that did not go the way the team would have liked.
Seattle was hosting the BCHL Showcase for the first time at the Kraken Community Iceplex, the practice facility for the Washington NHL franchise.
All 17 BCHL teams played two regular-season games in front of fans, as well as NHL scouts and NCAA coaches.
West Kelowna was the opposition on Monday, Oct. 23, and the Rivermen started well, getting themselves out to a 2-0 in the first period thanks to goals from Aaron Reierson and Brendan Dunphy.
However, in the second and third periods, the Warriors took over, cutting the lead to 2-1 early in the second, and tying it in the third period.
It was the team from the Interior that would get the winner with 6 minutes to go, also adding a late empty netter to make it a 4-2 final.
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After a day off, Rivermen took on another Interior team, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, for their first and only meeting of the season.
Salmon Arm got things started early in the first period, acquiring a 2-0 lead. However, Langley captain Vitaly Levyy would make it a 2-1 game to end the first period, and tie it early on in the second period on his eighth of the season.
READ ALSO: Rivermen win one, lose two on first road trip of season
Silverbacks tooka 3-2 lead into the second intermission, and added two more in the third to win 5-2 to end the Showcase in Seattle for the Rivermen.
Rivermen, made a short trip to Surrey on Friday to take on the league leading and undefeated Eagles.
This was the debut for newly signed Rivermen netminder Mason Beaupit, a San Jose Sharks draft pick in 2022, and former WHL goaltender for the Spokane Chiefs and Winnipeg Ice.
It was an even first period until midway through the frame, where Surrey was gifted a power play and took the lead on a redirection in front of the Rivermen goal. And with 20 seconds to go in the period, the home team doubled their lead on a pass out front that was converted in close. Surrey would get two more 1:05 apart early into the second period to take a 4-0 lead. Langley responded when Levyy scoredoff the left wing on a 5-on-3 power play for his ninth of the young season, and third of the week.
The Eagles would make it 5-1 with 9 minutes to go in the third, answered four minutes later by Luke Ashton who scored his third of the season on a wrist shot from the blueline, but it would not be enough as the Rivermen dropped their third game of the week 5-2.
The Rivermen were to play Coquitlam for the first time this season on Friday, Nov. 3, and return home Saturday to take on the same Express team for their third meeting in the season overall. First 100 kids through the door will get a pack of hockey cards, courtesy of Tim Hortons. Puck drops at 7:15 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at langleyrivermen.com, or at the door.