Surrey Knights lose season opener, but have winning ‘POG’ channel – Surrey Now-Leader
The Surrey Knights fired 34 shots but couldn’t get one while visiting goaltender Brodie Haylock in the team’s season opener.
On Thursday night (September 9) at the North Surrey Sport & Ice Complex, the home side lost 5-0 to the Langley Trappers in the first week of the PJHL return to action, again with spectators in the stands.
After giving up two goals early in the game, it was a “slow” start for the Knights, according to a game report posted on the team’s new website (surreyknights.ca).
New head coach Andy Liboiron “will have to find a new warm-up routine to wake up his team in the next game. The Knights rallied 10 minutes into the first period and fought hard. The power play looked good but didn’t flicker the string and looked tired as the coaches leaned hard on them, perhaps too long, trying to get a goal.
Brodie Haylock gets the play puck for his first career PJHL victory, also a shutout! Well done, Brodie! pic.twitter.com/fa9f7wBt7o
– Langley Trappers (@LangleyTrappers) September 10, 2021
For the Knights, goaltender Brendan Olson made 34 saves on 39 shots during the game, which saw 2002-born Trappers forward Anthony Bosnjak score three goals and an assist, with unique goals from Hayden Yahn and Lleyton Shearon.
Knights forward Brandon Melsness, an 18-year-old from Ladysmith, was granted the right to wear a thick gold chain as the team’s Player of the Match (POG).
Melsness, along with Dalton Mackeigan and Tyson Williams, showed promise from the penalty spot, as the Knights were called up for seven minors in 60 minutes of play.
“They thwarted big chunks of Langley’s power play and were able to generate a shorthanded offense and freeze the puck behind either goal,” the game report said.
“It should be noted that this was the first junior game for at least half of the Knights team, and it was evident from the start of the team. Fearful and overly cautious play (by) the team resulted in the result they received.
– Hockey des Chevaliers (@SurreyKnights) September 10, 2021
After two start-stop seasons due to the pandemic, it’s game time again for the Knights and the rest of the league.
Next up for the Knights is another home game Thursday (September 16) at 7 p.m. against the White Rock Whalers, followed by a September 18 battle at Mission against the Outlaws.
Liboiron, 30, from Kitchener, Ont., Replaces Gerry Leiper as head coach, who will focus on general management work and also serve as associate coach.
The roster of the team’s 21 players is posted on the Knights website (surreyknights.ca).
This year’s forwards are Billy Thompson, Tyson Williams, Dalton Mackeigan, Brandon Melsness, Henry Brawdy, Roman Wolynec, Tak Nagamatsu, Caleb Douglas, Montaro Uyeyama, Jayman Jutla and Jake Thompson.
The seven defenders are Liam Knotts, Tyson Benoit, Maddox Caie, Logan Earle, Brad Collins, Nick Rusnak and Darian Tamas, and the goalkeepers are Rahul Sharma, DJ Cash and Brendan Olson.
All PJHL games are now broadcast on HockeyTV.
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram and follow Tom on Twitter
