After a tough loss to the Calgary Mustangs on Sunday afternoon, the Canmore Eagles got right back in the win column, as they downed the visiting Olds Grizzlys 3-1 Tuesday night in front of 380 fans at the Canmore Recreation Centre.
In last night’s contest, the Eagles dominated on the shot clock as they outshot the visiting Grizzlys 38-21, including leading 14-2 after the 1st period and 28-9 after the middle frame.
“We dominated the time of possession, but we did not get the quality scoring chances we wanted,” said Eagles Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager Evan McFeeters. “Olds did a good job boxing out and keeping us to the outside.”
The Eagles played without the services of Forwards Alex Young and Max Giangualano who are in Calgary for the tryouts of Team Canada West. The Eagles were also without Forward Taden Rattie who missed his 2nd game straight game for precaution. Rattie is expected to be back in the lineup for the Eagles’ next game on Friday. The Eagles called up Forward Tristan Kimmen from the Lethbridge Midget AAA team. It was the 2nd time this season that the 16-year-old was called up to play with the Eagles. And he certainly did not disappoint, as he scored his 1st AJHL goal and it was a goal that got the Eagles on the board at 14:34 of the 1st period.
“Tristan is tenacious, he skates well and it is a good learning experience of what it takes to be a Junior A player,” said McFeeters. “He’s getting the playing time and developing at the Midget AAA level this season and he could crack our roster next season.”
Kimmen has 7 goals and 12 points in 15 games with his Midget AAA team this season.
The Eagles received their other goals from Captain Colton Young (15) and Michael Spafford (5).
Thomas Davis was back between the pipes and he stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced to improve his record to 8-4-2.
Last night’s game was Game #30 for the Eagles, which marked the halfway point of the 2018-19 regular season. The Eagles are sitting in 3rd Place in the AJHL South division with a record of 16 wins, 11 losses and 3 Overtime/Shootout losses for 35 points. The Eagles are 2 points ahead of the Camrose Kodiaks, Okotoks Oilers and Calgary Mustangs. When asking Coach McFeeters about the team’s overall performance in the 1st half of the season, he is not quite satisfied saying, “We need to be more consistent in the 2nd half. We want to be a good team night in and night out. We want to position ourselves to be successful in the playoffs come spring time.”
The Eagles have a big challenge to start off their 2nd of half of the season, as they head to Brooks to take on the Bandits (26-3) on Friday night. The Bandits have the best record in the AJHL and they are ranked #3 in Canada.
“We need to believe that we can go there and a win a hockey game,” said Coach McFeeters.
After Friday night’s contest, the Eagles will enjoy a week of rest, before returning home to face the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (14-9-6) on Friday, December 14 at 7 pm.
EAGLES FUN FACTS:
– Eagles Defenceman Daly Hamilton saw his point streak end at 10 games last night. However, he was named the 106.5 Mountain FM Player of the Month for the Month for November. Congratulations Daly!
– The Eagles have their best record at the midway point of the season since the 2004-05 season.