For many Vancouver Canucks fans, the 2011 Stanley Cup Final run has a lot of memories. For a young Jag Lalli, it established who he wanted to be growing up. “I was 6-years-old and intrigued by hockey,” said Lalli. “I remember watching the game versus Nashville with my uncle. It was love at first sight.” It also helped that Lalli wasn’t a shy kid.
“I was a bit of a chatterbox. I had a lot of confidence growing up. I listened to John Shorthouse and Jim Hughson, then I would mute the television and pretend I was calling the game. As I got older, hockey became a big part of my life. In Grade 12, I realized that broadcasting was the path I wanted to go. I then went to the British Columbia Institute of Technology.”
Fast friends
One of the first people Jag met in September 2022 was Liam Higgs. They were each other’s first friends at BCIT. They hit it off immediately and then Higgs and Lalli introduced each other to their fellow Broadcast and Online Journalism classmates.
Now for the 2024-25 season, they are calling games for the Fred Page Champion Surrey Eagles. Lalli is doing play-by-play while Higgs fills the role of colour commentator.
Like Lalli, Higgs has an interesting journey getting to the broadcast booth at the South Surrey Arena. “I’ve played hockey since I was five and been a goalie since I was eight. I thought I was going to the National Hockey League. When I was 18, I tried out for several teams, including the Coquitlam Express. “
Higgs quit hockey and went to the workforce as a carpenter — but then realized something. “I missed hockey,” he reflected. “And I thought about ways to get back into it.”
Higgs tried coaching but found it to be too competitive, so he explored other options. “It is just as hard being a coach and making (it to) the NHL as it is trying to be a player in the NHL. Deep down, I didn’t have as much fun as I thought I would. I was very competitive and got frustrated.”
So Higgs explored other options. “Like Jag, I was very outgoing. I liked being in front of the camera. I love talking about hockey, I love arguing with people about hockey. So I thought, ‘Why not go into broadcasting?’ I looked all over the country and thankfully at my doorstep was BCIT.”
Both Lalli and Higgs have high praise for their program at BCIT. “In my opinion, it’s the best broadcast program in the world,” Higgs said. “When I heard about the program at BCIT, I realized that this is a very realistic path for me to go down,” added Lalli. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s been a dream of mine ever since I was a kid.”
Don’t be mistaken, both Lalli and Higgs have plied their trade elsewhere, including separately in the Pacific Junior Hockey League. Lalli works with the Richmond Sockeyes and Higgs with the White Rock Whalers.
In particular, Higgs’ start was unique. “(At the time) I was the cameraman with the White Rock Whalers (and) then I was thrown into the fire. (One night) the play-by-play guy didn’t show up and they said ‘You are the play-by-play guy now.'”
As a Port Coquitlam, B.C. native, Higgs knew he had to be involved with the new Trailblazers franchise. “On the (day) they announced the team, I sought out owner Robert Toor and begged him to let me do the broadcast. I said, ‘I’ll do it for free!’”
Broadcast style and chemistry
When his friend and classmate Lalli was hired by the Eagles, Higgs wanted to be involved. “I put my application into to work with him. Their producer Richard Davies is a great producer, the opportunity was given to me and I’m so thankful for it.”
As to what to expect from a Surrey Eagles broadcast, both Lalli and Higgs feel it didn’t take long for their chemistry to connect. Not only because of their friendship but also due to their passion and love for the game.
“We’ve worked at school together. We’ve worked in the Junior Prospects Hockey League together. But we hadn’t called a game together (until this season),” Higgs said. “We’re good friends. and we talk all the time. I already do broadcasting with Zach Clarke and it didn’t take any time at all for (me and him). I didn’t think it would take time to find chemistry with Jag.”
“We’ve been around each other for a very long time,” added Lalli. “We know what we’re like and what our broadcasting styles are like.” That being said, there is always room to improve and learn.
“Last year, I was part of the PJHL with the Richmond Sockeyes and the Delta Ice Hawks,” Lalli reflected. “You get to watch other broadcasts and ask how they are doing it and how can we get better? What is there that we can take away from other broadcasts to use for ours?”
As for the style of broadcast, Lalli can’t help but bear the influence of Shorthouse and Hughson.
“I would describe myself as passionate and (doing my best to) keep the audience entertained. My biggest thing is balancing passion with impartiality. I want to make sure all viewers are informed. In the BCHL, it’s a bit different because broadcasters do travel from time to time, but there are games where the away broadcasters are not in South Surrey.”
Lalli also realizes how important the role is. “Our job is to ensure that all audiences are engaged the entire time — whether it be through humor or in-depth commentary from start to finish. We will focus on making everyone feel included.”
“I eat, breathe hockey all day long,” Higgs said. “I’m passionate and I love the game. You can hear it in my commentary, I’m always excited even for the littlest thing. I’m loose and I’m excited, no matter what level of hockey it is.”
With Higgs being a former goalie, there seems to be a natural fit for goalies to become colour commentators. “There is something about sitting back and observing. If you are on a decent team, there are times when you are just watching plays develop. I like to think that goalies have more insight into how the game works because they don’t have the tunnel vision when the puck is in the other end.”
As part of their fraternity, Higgs won’t go easy on the netminders during his broadcast. Tune in and you can expect the exact opposite.
“One of my mentors — Ryan Mensing — was very hard on me, and I couldn’t thank him enough. He made me the person that I am. He told me, ‘No matter what, as a goalie, it’s always your fault — whether it’s a two-on-one or a play the defence should have had’. As a goalie, there is always something you could have done to be in a better position. One way or another, if a puck goes in, it’s the goalie’s fault. It may not fully be their fault, but in some way, it is their fault. I’m more critical of goalies than soft on them.”
Covering the champions
Lalli and Higgs are stepping into their roles with the Eagles at a unique time. First and foremost, they are the 2024 Fred Page Cup Champions, knocking off the defending back-to-back champion Penticton Vees earlier this spring.
“Last year, the Eagles came in with not many expectations. It was a stable team, but not a team that people expected to compete in the playoffs and win the Fred Page Cup.”
“At the midpoint of the season, it started to click. You had guys like Ante Zlomisic, Nathan Oickle, Zachary Wagnon, Evan Brown, Caden Cranston, and Aaron Schwartz. It is so hard to leave people out, you can’t forget about goaltender Ajeet Gundarah,” explained Lalli.
“The Eagles also had the top two scorers in the BCHL last year in Cranston and Schwartz,” Lalli continued. The scoring prowess was a major factor in the Eagles finishing 44-8-2. They were by far the best team in the BCHL’s Coastal Conference while Penticton was the best team in the Interior Conference.
“With the end of the season, everyone thought ‘What now?’ They didn’t expect to be the (number) one seed. Where can this team go from here?” said Lalli. The Eagles answered those questions with series wins against the Victoria Grizzlies, Cowichan Valley Capitals., and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
For Lalli, Surrey’s win against a dominant Vees team — in their rink in Penticton — was most impressive.
“No one saw the level of dominance that Vees team had in the last few years. For the Eagles to go out and beat the Vees in game six at the South Okanagan Events Centre is an accomplishment that the South Surrey community will not forget for a long time.”
With a new year, comes new expectations and new players. “I talked about those guys… Schwartz, Cranston, Berger, Gundarah. They are all gone now.”
It’s not only the on-ice product that has a different look for the Eagles, it’s also who is guiding the team. After five seasons, general manager and head coach Cam Keith moved on.
Gomez leads a new era
Scott Gomez took over as the new GM and head coach. He had a successful career in the NHL, posting 655 points in 1,079 games with New Jersey, the New York Rangers, Montreal, San Jose, Florida, St. Louis, and Ottawa. Gomez won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2000 and is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion.
From Anchorage, Alaska, the 44-year-old is an Eagles alumnus who had 124 points in 54 games in the 1996-97 season.
New season = new expectations
“I’m excited for the coaching,” said Higgs. With the significant roster changes, there has been an adjustment — it was inevitable. Despite that, both Lalli and Higgs feel the Eagles can compete for the Fred Page Cup again.
“Coming into the season, you have that chip on the shoulder. You are the hunted,” explained Lalli. “I don’t want to call this a rebuild, but rather a restructure. The top guys from last season are gone. It puts pressure on the bottom six guys whose roles will be elevated to help the team repeat its glory.”
“All of the teams are going to be chasing behind. My expectations are pretty much the same as last year,” continued Lalli. “Go into the season having no expectations because you never know what is going to happen this season. If some of the players click, you never know — the Eagles could be back playing for the Fred Page Cup again.”
It’s something Higgs agrees with. “You are still the Fred Page Cup champions, trying to repeat. That said, there are going to be a lot of quirks to figure out. They are missing their top forwards and top two defenders as well as their top goalie. However, I’m excited to see Jaiden Sharma take on a bigger role between the pipes.”
Higgs also suspects 2024-25 has seen a different style of play from the Eagles. “Last season, the Eagles were a high-flying offence, scoring a lot of goals and the power play was clicking. It’s been interesting to see how they’ve answered some of the goal-scoring questions that I have.”
“I’m not worried about the goaltending or the defense. I’m excited to see defenceman Charlie Derrheim, who I saw a lot with White Rock Whalers,” added Higgs.
The new Alberta teams
Another significant change for 2024-25 is the first full season of the former Alberta Junior Hockey League clubs in the BCHL. It’s a bit too early to assess how the Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Blackfalds Bulldogs, Spruce Grove Saints, and Sherwood Park Crusaders do this season, but Higgs is excited to see them in the league.
“I think it’s awesome,” Higgs said. “The more teams the merrier. It gets more eyes on the BCHL. It’s a good influx of new players and gets eyes on the Alberta teams, too.”
“However it played out, it’s giving these kids on the Alberta teams a further opportunity to shine,” added Lalli. “Like Liam said, the more teams there are, the more eyes there will be. It’s no secret the BCHL continues to grow.”
Given their track record over the years, Lalli is particularly impressed with the Bandits. “The way they walked through those Alberta teams down the stretch is impressive. They only lost six games in the regular season last year and have some talented players.”
Higgs is excited about where the Alberta teams fit. “It’s too early to have a sleeper team, but maybe one of the Alberta teams will give the Eagles or Vees a run for the championship.”
The Bandits defeated Surrey in the best-of-three Rocky Mountain Challenge in two straight games.
Covering the defending Fred Page Champions is great and covering a league with the five new Alberta teams is also great, but overall, Lalli is grateful to have the opportunity to live out a dream that started during the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.
“I want to give a massive shout-out to everyone involved in the Surrey Eagles organization for allowing me and Liam to take that next step right out of BCIT. Speaking for myself, to be the voice of the Eagles is a dream come true. This is something beyond my wildest dreams.”
A chance for Lalli to represent his culture
Additionally, Lalli feels he is becoming a voice for his culture. “Being of Punjabi descent, I’m not seeing many Punjabi junior broadcasters around Western Canada. I hope to serve as a role model to people younger than me and those who love hockey just as much as I do. Maybe people at that age whose playing career didn’t work out. We can still be a part of the game in some way.”
“I can’t express my gratitude to the Brar family and the Surrey Eagles organization — not only to represent my family but to represent the Punjabi community,” continued Lalli.
Lalli has also worked for Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition for three years and has seen how the community continues to embrace hockey.
“There have been a lot of Punjabi content creators in the last few years. The first Punjabi immigrant to Canada was in 1912, so I’m a first-generation Canadian. My parents immigrated here 30 years ago and had no idea what the sport of hockey was all about. As I mentioned, my uncle had the games on in 2011, but the main connection to the language of hockey and Punjabi was Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi. To all my co-workers on that show, I want to give a huge shout-out for everything they continue to do.”
Not only is the Punjabi broadcast a benefit to the Punjabi community, but Lalli also observes the benefits the sport gets. “We see what Sportsnet 650 colour commentator Randip Janda does. He continues to represent our culture.”
“It’s good for hockey to include people of all backgrounds since people of all backgrounds enjoy the sport of hockey. With initiatives such as Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi, the Canucks’ Diwali Night, and the Eagles Punjabi night, people are being introduced to the sport of hockey no matter what level it is at.”
Being of Punjabi descent, Lalli is thrilled to see the sport he loves being embraced by people in his culture. The presence was felt during the Canucks run earlier this spring. There were celebrations all over the Lower Mainland, most notably at Scott Road and 72nd in Surrey and in downtown Vancouver.
“My uncle made headlines by taking his tractor into downtown Vancouver. He would take it after every Canucks win with the team’s flag hanging off it. People would honk and wave — all with smiles on their faces. It is great for our sport, but even better for our community.”
