Acquisition is an instant hit

By Marc Weber - The Province - December 5, 2007

Chris Van Duynhoven scored a huge goal for the Chilliwack Bruins on Tuesday. Then he went to score some big points in the visitors' locker room.

The newly acquired defenceman blasted the key 5-3 goal past former billet mate Real Cyr as the Bruins knocked off the Cougars 6-3 at Prospera Centre.

"For sure I'll go over and give him a hug right now," said Van Duynhoven, who came over from Prince George in a trade on Friday.

"I usually always go five hole on him [in past practices] but everyone was standing in front. I saw the far side and I put it there and was lucky it went in."

Chilliwack (17-12-3-0) won its fourth straight and improved to 4-1 this season against slumping Prince George (11-21-0-0).

Van Duynhoven's goal came with 4:55 remaining in the game after the Cougars pressed for the tying goal on the power play.

"Wow, that was a big-time goal tonight, he looked like Bob Rouse out there," said Bruins head coach Jim Hiller, poking fun at his NHL veteran assistant coach.

Early on, though, it didn't look like Chilliwack would need late heroics.

The Bruins dominated the first period, outshooting the visitors 15-6 and jumping ahead by a field goal on tallies from Mark Santorelli, Cody Smuk and Evan Pighin. It was enough to chase starter Tommy Tartaglione from the net, which eventually set up the poignant finish.

But after the Sardis Secondary drumline put on a peppy intermission performance, Chilliwack came out for the second marching to a different beat.

Morgan MacLean and Parker Stanfield cut the lead to 3-2 by 12:20 of the second and Ty Wishart, on a shorthanded breakaway, beat Mark Friesen to make it 4-3 at 11:37 of the final frame.

"Every time we've played PG it's been the same script," said Hiller. "We've come out really hard and then taken our foot off the gas. We have to continue to work on that."

Santorelli, who was named the CHL's player of the week, added an assist and now has 16 points in his last six games. Oscar Moller picked up three assists and Pighin had two goals and two helpers as the top line combined for nine points.

For Van Duynhoven, the view from the rear was a refreshing change.

"After the Kelowna game [Sunday] I was talking to Oscar and I said, 'You know, it's nice to be on the other side of you and Santorelli, I don't have to worry about you coming at me and scoring,'" he laughed. "They're unreal All you've got to do is flip it off the glass and they take it from there."

The Bruins now have three days off to prepare for the 2007 WHL champion Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday (7 p.m., TEAM1040.ca). It's the only meeting between the teams this season.