The Canmore Eagles earned a point but ultimately fell in a shootout to the visiting Camrose Kodiaks 6-5 Friday night in front of 694 at Alex Kaleta Arena.
The Kodiaks snapped a four game losing streak and won for the first time in a shootout in five tries, improving to 3-5-0-4 on the season. The Eagles dropped to 7-3-0-1, but with the point, tied the Drayton Valley Thunder for top spot in the South Division.
Ryder Dembo kicked off the scoring for the Eagles 9:14 into the first period, wiring a shot top shelf behind Connor Knorr, his second of the season.
It was a breakout game for Dembo, who would add another on the powerplay in the third period to tie the game at 4. He would add an assist on Bryson Insinger marker in the second, to move into second place in team scoring with 14 points (3 goals and 11 assists).
The two teams would trade goals in the second period, Hunter Yee’s third and Kaden Hayes’ second, before the Kodiaks would score three straight to take a 4-3 lead into the third period. Camrose’s Brandon de Haas had a pair, including a goal with a two man advantage.
The Kodiaks went two for seven on the powerplay, while the Eagles went one for six.
The biggest story of the game was Camrose’s Connor Knorr, who turned aside 56 of 61 shots for his third win of the season. He was rock solid in overtime, turning away five Eagles shots, many on a 4 on 3 man advantage.
Canmore’s Steven Wawryk made his second straight start in between the pipes, making 30 saves in a losing effort. The former Moose Jaw AAA Warrior made a number of highlight reel saves, especially in the second period.
Aidan Tkachuk, who snapped a two game pointless streak with a goal and a assist, was the only Eagle to beat Knorr in the shootout.
Hunter Yee scored to keep the shootout going in the third row before Evan Carver scored the winner for the Kodiaks.
The Eagles are back in action tomorrow night against the same Camrose Kodiaks. Puck drop is at 7 PM at Alex Kaleta Arena. Tickets are still available at www.canmoreeagles.ca/tickets.
