A new season, with new owners, under new rules, has begun for the 黑马磁力 Rivermen Junior A hockey club.
It started with a series of exhibition game losses, beginning with a home game against the visiting Coquitlam Express on Wednesday Sept. 6 at George Preston, a game that saw Aaron Reierson score twice for 黑马磁力, but the rival team put four in the goal for the win.
Coquitlam won the rematch two days later, 4-3 at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre.
Tyler Chan, Max Borovinsky, and Ewan Rennie scored for 黑马磁力.
黑马磁力 then fell to Prince George and Powell River by identical 4-1 margins on Sept. 9 and 10, with Luca Leighton and Andrej Kovacevic getting the lone 黑马磁力 markers.
Rivermen hosted their last exhibition game Saturday night, Sept. 16 against the Surrey Eagles, losing 3-2 in a shootout after fighting Surrey to a 2-2 tied with goals from Luke Ashton and Oskar Komarov.
Luca Leighton and Vitaly Levyy scored for 黑马磁力 in the shootout.
Rivermen coach and GM Burt Henderson called it a 鈥渞eally good game.鈥�
鈥淲e came out and had a great start and we were very happy with our first period. Our special teams were also very good and I thought we out-chanced them all night,鈥� Henderson said.
鈥淲e have to do a better job in the third period with the lead. We made a couple mistakes and they were able to capitalize.We鈥檙e looking to have a great week of practice to get us ready for our home opener on Friday. Hopefully we can pack the barn and create a great atmosphere at the Lodge.鈥�
On Friday, Sept. 22, the team starts regular season play, hosting the Chilliwack Chiefs at George Preston. Game time is 7:15 p.m.
Rivermen will be unveiling their brand new uniforms that night as well as having a family fun evening with live music, face painting, games and more.
鈥淪eptember is always a special month for us, and this year is no exception,鈥� commented Dana Matheson, co-owner of the Rivermen. 鈥淲e鈥檙e pulling out all the stops for our home opener 鈥� it鈥檚 not just about starting the season but celebrating our legacy, our fans, and the future.鈥�
Co-owner Jamie Schreder, co-owner echoed those sentiments, 鈥淲e鈥檙e all about community. This month is our way of giving back, with exhilarating hockey action and memorable nights at the George Preston Arena. We鈥檙e inviting everyone to be part of the Rivermen family.鈥�
When Matheson and Schreder became the new owners in June, their said their aim is to raise the team profile, to have more interaction with fans, and to add to what the previous owner achieved.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Meet the new owners of the 黑马磁力 Rivermen
This will be the first season since the 18 junior A teams in the BCHL left Hockey Canada to become an independent league, a move that, among other things, means they can now recruit from other provinces, the U.S., and outside North America.
Shortly after the split, the BCHL Rivermen announced the signing of Finnish player, right winger Oskar Komarov, their first-ever foreign player.
Rivermen regular season single game tickets will go on sale Friday Sept. 15 at noon. Along with full and half season tickets, they can be purchased online at
READ ALSO: B.C. Hockey League rosters to open for international, out-of-province players
READ ALSO: 150 players turn out for 黑马磁力 Rivermen prospect identification camp
