Eagles double-OT win brings home BCHL title

Press Release

 Adam Tambellini's goal at 2:34 of double overtime made the Surrey Eagles the 2012-13 BCHL champs with a 3-2 win over the Penticton Vees in Game 6 of the BCHL Finals.

Eagles captain Brett Mulcahy opened the scoring at 1:55 of the first and it wound up being the only goal until late in the third when a flurry of goals set the stage for OT.

First, Louie Nanne tied the game but Brady Shaw's power-play tally gave the Eagles the edge again. It looked certain the Eagles would win in regulation time but Penticton pulled goalie Chad Katunar while Shaw was off for tripping and John Siemer's tally with 24 seconds left sent the game to overtime.

Another wildly entertaining contest in what was a thrilling series, both teams had several glorious chances in overtime. Eagles goalie Michael Santaguida made 44 saves for the win while Chad Katunar stopped 35 in the Vees' crease.

The win was the first by a visiting team in the Finals.

Surrey's victory also brings the Fred Page Cup back to the Coastal Conference for the first time since 2007 when the Nanaimo Clippers were champions. It's the fourth BCHL title for the Surrey franchise and the first since 2005.

The Eagles now advance to the inaugural Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup in Nanaimo April 27 to May 5. The top two teams at that event qualify for the RBC Cup national championship in Summerside, PEI.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)