For the second time in as many meetings the Canmore Eagles dominated the Calgary Canucks.
Logan Ferguson scored two goals and had one assist as the Eagles defeated the Canucks 6-3 before 368 fans Tuesday night at the Canmore Recreation Centre.
The Canucks have been in or held a share of first place in the South Division of the Alberta Junior Hockey League since opening day, but in each of the two outings against the Eagles have come out decisively second best. In the first game between these two teams, on Nov. 3, the Eagles won 6-2.
Although Jeremy Reich, Eagles assistant GM and assistant coach, who led the bench in place of Andrew Milne, who was away on Tuesday night, thought the team could have played even better.
“I thought we started out flat and the second period we were undisciplined,” said Jeremy Reich, Eagles assistant GM and assistant coach. “The third period, I thought we were disciplined and pushed the pace.”
In addition to two goals by Ferguson, giving him 16 goals for the season, other Canmore goals came from Braden Saretsky, his 12th, Byrce Platt, his sixth, Colton Young, his third, and Adamu Tanaka, his third.
“It shows that when everyone is going and we play as a team what we are capable of doing,” said Ferguson, reflecting on the moments the Eagles did control the game. “We would have loved to play a complete 60 [minutes] but we will take the win.”
Canucks goals, all in the second period, came from Andrew Marshall, his eighth, Brett Van Os, his 10th, and Brayden Brown, his fourth.
Canmore led 2-0 after the first period, with the game tied 3-3 after 40 minutes.
Ryan Bontorin outdueled Logan Drackett when it came down the goaltending. The two goaltenders are the two most worked tenders in the league this season. Bantorin was making his 21st start of the season and 35 saves. Drackett, coming off a player of the week award, made just 19 saves.
A penalty filled game, the Eagles were 1-for-8 on the power play while the Canucks were 2-for-7.
Canmore improved to 12-7-3 on the season and is tied for third place in the South with the idle Okotoks Oilers (12-6-3) and the Camrose Kodiaks (13-9-1), who won 3-1 over the Calgary Mustangs (3-20-1, eighth place in the South).
After winning two of three games on this recent homestand, Canmore heads out on the road this weekend with games in Lloydminster on Friday and Bonnyville on Saturday.
‘It’s a different style of play up there, so we have to be prepared for sure,” said Ferguson.
The Eagles and Canucks (16-7-1) will meet again on Tuesday, 7 p.m. at the Max Bell Arena in Calgary.
RUllyot@postmedia.com
For more from Russ: http://www.thecragandcanyon.ca/2016/11/16/eagles-double-up-on-canucks
Photo by: Pam Doyle