Photo Credit Sei Spo Press
Double-double for Eagles
Two wins and a two-goal performance from Vincent Scott highlighted the Canmore Eagles weekend through the northwest portion of the province.
Kayden Smith’s goal with less than three minutes to play gave the Canmore Eagles a 4-3 win over the hometown Drayton Valley Thunder on Sunday afternoon.
Canmore rallied from a 3-1 deficit to get its second win in three Alberta Junior Hockey League games during a three-day swing. Eagles captain Vincent Scott recorded a two-goal game during the road trip.
In Drayton Valley, Eagles defence Brody Tallman opened the scoring seven minutes into the first period.
The lead held for eight minutes as the Thunder would score three consecutive goals, all coming during 4-on-4 situations from coincidental minor penalties. Cody Pizarczyk knotted the game at 1-1 in the first period. In the second period, Brendan Mairs followed by Matthew Strilets had the home team up 3-1 by 6:11.
Canmore would get back on even terms during the second period via the power play, as Scott scored his team-leading 14th goal at 11:03, followed by Owen Jones at 19:51.
Smith then scored his 12th goal of the season at 17:27, slapping in a bouncing puck from in front of goal for what would prove the game winner.
Canmore outshoot Drayton Valley 32-19, although it hardly looked that lopsided in parity of play. Andreai Proctor-Ramirez was in goal for the Eagles, with Colin Reay in goal for the Thunder.
Canmore took on the North Division’s second-best team on Saturday and were undone by the Whitecourt Wolverine’s special teams play, falling 3-2.
The Wolverines scored twice on the power play and once shorthanded, with goals from Cooper Smyl in the first period, Chase Broda in the second period and Michael Lovsin in the third period.
Kyle Young assisted on both Canmore goals as Tallman scored on a second-period power play and Reed Jacobsen tied the game at 2-2 just over six minutes into the third period.
On the power play, Canmore finished 1-for-7 while Whitecourt was 2-for-4.
The shots were 36 apiece with Matthew Malin in goal for the Eagles and Ben Charette in goal for the Wolverines.
Scott scores two
The two goals by Scott in a 4-1 victory over the Grande Prairie Storm on Friday included a penalty shot goal early in the second period.
Scott was hooked on a breakaway attempt earning the shot. He would use a backhand placement on his penalty attempt to score his 12th goal of the season.
Hunter Burgeson opened the scoring in the first period and Kayden Rawji into an empty net completed the scoring for Canmore.
Hudson Foley had the Storms’ lone goal as the Eagles led at the breaks 1-0 and 2-1.
On the power play, Canmore was 0-for-3 and Grande Prairie was 0-for4.
Shots on goal were 32-23 in favour of Canmore, with Proctor-Ramirez in goal for the Eagles and Connor Mackenzie in goal for the Storm.
With the weekend results, Canmore improves its record to 14-14-2-2 and move to fifth place in the South Division. The Eagles have gone 5-2-1-0 since snapping a six-game losing streak and have 32 points, equal to the fifth-place Camrose Kodiaks (15-16-2) with a game in hand on their division rival.
Ellis heads to UVic
Prior to the start of the road trip, Nathan Ellis – who was one of three Canmore natives on the squad – announced he is leaving the Eagles to further his post-secondary education. Everyone wishes Nathan all the best as he begins classes at the University of Victoria in the New Year.
The 19-year-old forward was in his second season with Canmore and registered four goals and 13 points in 75 career games. He scored his final goal as an Eagle in his final appearance, and it was the game winner in a 6-3 triumph over the Drumheller Dragons on Dec. 3.
Just three games remain prior to the Christmas break. Canmore hosts the Calgary Canucks on Friday, Dec. 16, and the Drumheller Dragons on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Both games are at the Canmore Recreation Centre beginning at 7 p.m.
Sandwiched between those games is a trip to the Olds Sportsplex on Saturday, Dec. 17 to take on the Grizzlys beginning at 7 p.m.