Skip to content

VIDEO: Langley Rivermen begin new season

Home opener is set for Sunday, Sept. 22 

Langley Rivermen head coach and general manager Chris Shaw said this year's training camp took a physically demanding  "old school" approach.

"The guys had to push themselves," Shaw told the Langley Advance Times after attendees played four scrimmages over two days at the George Preston arena, winding up Sunday, Sept. 1.

"We want to create a brand of hockey that's entertaining for our community and our league," Shaw remarked. "There's a lot of pressure and we have something to prove this year." 

Both teams took two games apiece, and the scores were close.

"I felt like our Saturday game really was intense and spirited," Shaw summarized.

We had a real physical game and, and they really upped the intensity [and]  that kind of propelled them into the Sunday with two really good games."

Shaw said a lot of the players had junior experience, bringing experience, maturity and intensity to camp.

"We had a spirited scrap with two 20-year-olds with Dalton MacGillivray and  Ryan Schelling to kind of cap it off," Shaw said.

"It was to kind of just let the guys know that this is all business right now and we're here to get better. Those guys are all looking to get ready and we've got a lot of guys that are really hungry to do that."

"At the end of the day,  being a coach and coming into a new program, you want to see guys compete."

Coming out of training camp, Rivermen have 17 forwards, 10 defencemen  and three goalies vying for position on the final roster.

Those numbers were expected to shrink following a series of pre-season games.

READ ALSO: Young Langley Rivermen fans get on the ice with team

Rivermen will play their first home game of the new season, an exhibition against the Coquitlam Express, on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.

Tickets will be available for purchase at www.langleyrivermen.com.

Regular season home opener is set for Sunday, Sept. 22 at 2:30 p.m. against the Prince George Spruce Kings.

There will be a family skate immediately after the game.

Gates will open early for live music, face painting and other family-style activities.