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Second-period surge sends Surrey Eagles past Langley Rivermen

Langley junior A hockey club can't build on solid first period, drop 7-3 decision in BCHL action

The start was great, but the final two periods, not so much for the Langley Rivermen.

The Rivermen led Tuesday's contest at the Langley Events Centre against the Surrey Eagles 2-1 after 20 minutes, but the visitors scored four times in the middle period to take control, winning 7-3 in the junior A BCHL game.

Langley's Mario Puskarich opened the scoring 22 seconds into the junior A contest after James Robinson did some great work down low, digging free the puck for Evan Campbell.

Campbell put the puck right on the tape to Puskarich who made no mistake, ripping a shot five-hole on Surrey goalie Michael Santaguida.

But Surrey responded a few minutes later with a power-play goal by Craig Wyszomirski.

And with time running out in the opening frame, the Rivermen's Mitch McLain spotted a loose puck in front of the Eagles goal and back-handed home the puck.

Any momentum generated by that late goal didn't last long as Surrey's Brady Shaw took control of the game.

The Eagles forward notched two goals and two assists — Drew Best and Nicolas Pierog had the other tallies — in a nine-minute span to give his team a 5-2 lead heading into the final period.

Campbell did give the home side some life five minutes into the third period as he cut the lead to 5-3 but Shaw and Stefan Burzan scored late to put the game out of reach.

Shaw finished the night with three goals and five points while Best had a goal and three helpers.

The loss leaves Langley with a record of 9-11-0-4 and their 22 points have them five back of fourth-place in the Mainland Division.

Langley returns the road for a pair of games on Vancouver Island, Dec. 1 versus the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and then the next afternoon in Victoria against the Grizzlies.