January was tough on the Langley Rivermen. It saw them play nine out of eleven games on the road. In those eleven games, the Rivermen were only able to pick up three victories. Like I said, it was tough. The end arrived when they played the Coquitlam Express on Friday. The game against the Express saw Massimo Rizzo get a hat trick and the Rivermen went 0-for-8 on the power play to lose 5-0. With January on the back burner, the Rivermen started February off with a Sunday afternoon game at home against the Chilliwack Chiefs.
Rivermen Edge the Chiefs
RIV WIN
A milestone-filled afternoon sees Langley taking down the Chiefs 3-2 in the first of a four game home stand
Next Home Game: Tuesday vs. Salmon Arm at the Lodge pic.twitter.com/s9IrB4ZsCD
— Langley Rivermen (@LangleyRivermen) February 3, 2020
The Rivermen welcomed the Chilliwack Chiefs to town for a Sunday afternoon game with a divisional rival. With playoffs just around the corner, each team is fighting for wins to move up in the standings. The first period ended scoreless, but the Rivermen outshot the Chiefs 14-9. The second period saw Kalen Szeto pick up his tenth goal of the season with assists going to Sean Bunting and Brendan Budy.
The third period saw both teams go back and forth. Tanner Versluis put the Rivermen up 2-0 five minutes into the final period. Tristan Fraser and Jake Livingstone picked up the assists. The Chiefs weren’t done, they were able to claw back and tie the game after goals by Tommy Lyons and Trevor Adams. Then the fun hockey began, and with five minutes left in the game the Rivermen were able to break the tie. Matteo Pecchia picked up his second goal of the season with the helpers going to Szeto and Daniel O’Neill. Jonathan Mor made thirty saves as the Rivermen held on to win 3-2.
Rivermen Milestone Afternoon
The Sunday afternoon win against the Chiefs saw two players on the Rivermen hit some big career milestones.
With an assist in today's victory over Chilliwack, Brendan Budy is now the Rivermen All-Time Leader in Points
Congrats Brendan! pic.twitter.com/on8ThrMc0O
— Langley Rivermen (@LangleyRivermen) February 3, 2020
This season’s leading scorer for the Rivermen, Brendan Budy, picked up an assist on Sean Bunting’s goal against the Chiefs. The helper made Budy the Rivermen’s all-time leader in points with 149 points in 151 games. Budy has proven himself as one of the top elite players in the BCHL and is committed to the University of North Dakota next season.
Jake Livingstone is now the Rivermen All-Time Leader in Games Played
Congrats Jake! pic.twitter.com/M1iLPxT5lk
— Langley Rivermen (@LangleyRivermen) February 3, 2020
Veteran defensemen Jake Livingstone also reached a milestone against the Chiefs. Just playing in that game made Livingstone the Rivermen’s all-time leader in games played with 176. Livingstone is leading scorer on Langley’s back end with 42 points in 43 games. He will attend Minnesota State University next season.
The Rivermen are back in action at home on Tuesday, February 4 as they welcome the Salmon Arm Silverbacks to town.
