Giants vs. Royals…NICE!
They are both their club’s respective top players, but the connection between Brendan Gallagher of the Vancouver Giants and Kevin Sundher of the Victoria Royals runs much deeper. The two first met back in Burnaby Pee Wee hockey, winning the provincial AAA crown in 2005, and a budding competition was borne.
So it came as no surprise when the competitive juices boosted Gallagher to a stunning three goal two assist performance last Monday against Sundher’s Royals. Gallagher, fresh off his strong performance at Montreal Canadiens camp, was in on every goal in the 5-1 victory.
Kevin Sundher had put up 15 points in his first eight contests this season, but was held in check by his rival. He finished the game -3 with no points, doing little to change perceptions he’s not a big game player.
As Gallagher told the Province, “He’s one of the top players in the league,and I know him well. We played together in Pee Wee and when I moved back to South Delta, we competed against each other.
The rivalry runs deep! Gallagher & Sundher
“I know the kind of things he’s capable of. He’s a very good player and anytime you’re matched up against a player like that you’re going to get excited.”
Said Sundher of Gallagher, “he’s the straw that stirs their drink.
We tried to key up on him, but he played a really good game.”
With six head to head games left between the BC division rivals, there remains a few chapters left in Gallagher and Sundher’s WHL rivalry until Gallagher most likely makes the professional jump in 2012-2013.
With playoff spots on the line and a shot at being champions in the competitive BC division, both players will only raise their compete levels as the series matures this year.
This competitive rivalry will have legs after both player’s respective WHL careers have ended.
Gallagher, as mentioned, is a a fifth round Habs draft pick while Sundher is a third round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres.
Whether in the Northeast division of the NHL or the North division of the AHL, Sundher and Gallagher will being going head-to-head far after they outgrow their WHL teams.
