The B.C. Hockey League regular-season champion Surrey Eagles have an alumni list that includes former NHLers Scott Gomez, Scott Hannan, Brandon Tanev and, if you count the Eagles’ forbearer New Westminster Royals, Cliff Ronning.
It looked like a legitimate return to glory for the Eagles and potential run to a sixth Fred Page Cup B.C. Hockey League championship, but first since 2012-13.
Then came the Victoria Grizzlies to at least question those ambitions. The Coastal Conference fourth seeds are level 2-2 in the best-of-seven conference semifinal heading into Game 5 tonight at South Surrey Arena.
“They were first overall in the league and we are still the underdogs,” reasoned Grizzlies GM and head coach Rylan Ferster.
The Grizzlies are looking to reach the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2018-19 when led by NHL first-round draft pick and current Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook, and their second BCHL championship in franchise history, but first since 2000-01.
It all now hangs in the balance.
“It’s a best-of-three now and the loser [tonight] will be facing elimination Saturday. We are comfortable where we are and not panicking,” said Ferster.
Surrey boasts BCHL first-team all-star goaltender Ajeet Gundarah in the crease but on Tuesday it was back-up Jaiden Sharma who recorded the 31-save shutout in the 3-0 Eagles victory at The Q Centre. Gundarah and Sharma have split the series so far for Surrey with Gundarah 0-2 and the understudy Sharma 2-0 with a towering 0.83 goals-against average and .972 save percentage.
“They have been going 1-2, 1-2 at us,” noted Ferster.
It’s pretty much a Hobson’s choice for the Grizzlies, who have to face either the league first-team all-star selection or the hottest goalie in the playoffs. They simply have to get pucks past whoever is in the Surrey net.
Undersized but quick and reliable Victoria goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton, committed to Colgate University of the NCAA, has been busy and steady for Victoria. Auyeung-Ashton is 6-3 in these playoffs with a 2.30 GAA and .929 save percentage.
The sixth game is Saturday at The Q Centre and the seventh game, if required, would be Monday in Surrey.
“We are in the heart of the series now,” said Ferster
“Both teams have won games in the other team’s building.”
The third-seed Alberni Valley Bulldogs beat the second-seed Chilliwack Chiefs 3-2 on Wednesday night in Port Alberni to sweep their Coastal Conference semifinal series 4-0. The defending conference-champion Bulldogs now await the winner of the series between the Grizzlies and Eagles.
