RIVERMEN VICTORIOUS IN EXHIBITION OPENER

Kolby Matthews faced 36 shots - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The 2016 BCHL exhibition kicked off Wednesday night. The Express played host to the Langley Rivermen and it was the visitors coming away with a 5-2 win.

B. Szabados & M. Sande
Photo courtesy of Damon James

Veterans Cam Bertsch and Owen Stout had some of the better scoring chances for the Express in the first period with Bertsch getting stopped on a bang bang play by Bo Didur. Then Owen Stout hit the post on a breakaway.

Langley had the only goal of the first period and the Rivermen outshot the Express 9-8.

The visitors in the first half of the second period looked to expand their lead, but Express netminder Kolby Matthews made some of his best saves of the game on a 2 on 1, a rebound chance coming to his left and a deflection.

Veteran Bo Didur got the start for Langley and was perfect in his 30 minutes of action.

12 minutes into the second period Angus Crookshank found a loose puck and scored for a 2-0 Rivermen lead.

Just under two minutes later the Express hit the scoreboard on a power play goal by Brady Szabados re-directing a Michael Sande point shot.

Arsh Bains - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The Rivermen quickly responded to re-store their two goal lead and it was 3-1 through two periods.

Brendan Prappas midway through the third period again pulled the Express within one on a breakaway goal beating Zakery Myrowich.

Satchel Clendennin and Brendan Budy rounded out the scoring for the Rivermen who outshot the Express 36-25.

The Express were 1 for 5 on the power play while Langley went 1 for 3.

Cam Bertsch, Blake Hayward, Owen Stout and Alex Ambrosio were the returning veterans in their lineup in the exhibition opener.

The teams will meet again Thursday night at the Langley Sportsplex.