The Surrey Eagles scored five straight goals to defeat the Coquitlam Express, 6-3, Saturday at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
On a special night to raise money for cancer research, Coquitlam built a 3-1 lead midway through the second period on goals by affiliate call-up Ethan Rosenoff, Liam Tanner and Mateo Dixon.
But the wheels started to come off for the home team late in the second period when Jacob Bonkowski redirected a cross-crease slap pass past Express goalie Adam Manji then Ross Roloson tied it 34 seconds into the third period.
It was another goal by Bonkowski that gave Surrey the lead for the first time in the game 8:19 into the final frame, and a pair of empty net goals in the last 1:01 completed the comeback.
It was Coquitlam’s second loss in two nights, after a 2-1 setback in overtime to the Chilliwack Chiefs Friday in Chilliwack. It was also a missed opportunity to close ground on the second-place Eagles, which moved nine points ahead of the third-place Express in the BC Hockey League’s Coastal division.
The league now takes its traditional Christmas break with games not resuming until Dec. 30. The Express next play on Jan. 6 when the team will honour former star Kyle Turris before its game against the Chiefs at Poirier.
Before he went on to play 13 seasons with the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes, Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators and Edmonton Oilers, Turris lead the Express to a national Junior A championship when the team was based in Burnaby. The following season he scored 121 points in 53 games then was drafted third overall by the Coyotes.
