CANMORE EAGLES ““ 18/09/21
A perfect start to the season
Opening weekend: two games in two days and two wins for the Canmore Eagles.
The Eagles began the home portion of their 2021-22 Alberta Junior Hockey League schedule with a 5-4 win over the Calgary Canucks at the Recreation Centre on Saturday night.
The victory follows a 3-2 overtime victory over the Grizzlys in Olds on Friday.
In Saturday”™s game, played before 326 fans, the Eagles got goals from five different players beginning with Riley Dekowny”™s third goal of the season with just three seconds remaining in the first period.
What followed was four more consecutive goals as the Eagles built a 5-1 lead. Scoring their first goals of the young season were Ethan Schaeffer and Mitchell Watson, both in the second period, followed by Isaac Suppin and Kyle Young inside the opening three minutes of the third period.
Defencemen Cale Lyons and Drae Gardiner each finished the game with two assists.
The Canucks would make it interesting in the end. Ben Kotylak scored the visitor”™s first goal giving them a 1-0 lead midway through the opening period. In the third period and trailing by four goals the Calgary squad rallied with goals by Braeden Donnelly, Alex Walicki and Kotylak again, with four seconds remaining, to make the final score a close one.
The Canucks would outshoot the Eagles 45-33 with a 19-3 advantage in the final period. Andreai Proctor-Ramirez was in goal again for the Eagles and was named the star of the game. He was also named the Eagles star in their opening win. Sam Philpott was between the pipes for the Canucks.
The Eagles were 2-for-6 on the power play with the Canucks going 1-for-3.
After the opening weekend, the Eagles are tied for top spot in the South Division with the Drumheller Dragons, who are also 2-0-0 with wins over the Canucks (8-2) and Brooks Bandits (4-3).
Next up for Canmore is a trip to Okotoks on Friday, Sept. 24 to take on the Okotoks Oilers, who are 1-1-0 on the season after splitting their opening two games with the Kodiaks in Camrose.
EAGLES NEST: Not dressing for the Eagles were goaltender Devin Chapman and rookies Jack McKeown and Max Monette. “¦ The Eagles”™ next home game is Sunday, Sept. 26 against the Blackfalds Bulldogs. Game time is 2 p.m. at the Recreation Centre. Fans are reminded they will have to show proof of vaccination to attend the game. Game tickets are available online at canmoreagles.com.