Eagles eye top spot in round-robin finale

First place is on the line when the Canmore Eagles engage the Niverville Nighthawks on Tuesday, May 12, at the Centennial Cup in Summerside, P.E.I. (1 p.m. MT, HNLive.ca).

Canmore, the Alberta Junior Hockey League champion, has won its previous three games and is on eight points – two regulation-time victories and an overtime win – while Niverville, the Manitoba Junior Hockey League champion, is on five points – one regulation-time victory and one overtime win.

The Eagles can grasp top spot in Pool A with a victory of any kind while the Nighthawks can wrest away first with a regulation-time win.

Eagles GM/Head Coach Andrew Milne didn’t mince words. “We have to win,” he said matter‑of‑factly. “That’s the plan.”

Unravelling playoff implications, a Canmore victory would also ensure a spot in the semifinal round of games on Saturday avoiding a quarter-final matchup which pits second place versus third place in a crossover playoff format – while also avoiding the needed feat of winning three consecutive games over three days beginning Friday to claim the Centennial Cup championship.

An overtime win for the MJHL squad would set up a decisive showdown for Pool A’s top spot Wednesday, when Niverville goes head‑to‑head with the Rockland Nationals, the Central Canada Hockey League representatives.

Rockland kept its playoff hopes alive with a decisive 8-2 win over the Superior International Hockey League champion Thunder Bay North Stars. It is the Nationals first win in three tournament games while the North Stars have three losses.

A three-way battle for the final two playoff spots in Pool A has developed heading into Tuesday’s action with Niverville on five points with host Summerside Western Capitals and Rockland both on four points. None of the teams are assured of a playoff spot.

Summerside takes on Thunder Bay in the final pool contest for both teams in Tuesday’s late game (4:30 p.m. MT).

In Pool B, there is a scenario where all five teams could finish tied at six points – have fun sorting that out – after the Maritime Junior Hockey League Truro Bearcats surprised the Ontario Junior Hockey League Toronto Patriots  6-1 in Monday’s late game.

Earlier on Monday, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Flin Flon Bombers blew up the Ontario Junior Hockey League Greater Sudbury Cubs 6-4.

Tuesday’s early game (9 a.m. MT) features Greater Sudbury against the Quebec Junior Hockey League Collège Français de Longueuil.

It will come down the final couple of pool games on Wednesday to sort out the standings.

Monday games:

Redi Arberry snapped a 4-4 tie with less than a second remaining in the middle period to propel the Bombers to a 6-4 win over the Cubs.

After giving up the opening goal, Flin Flon struck for four consecutive to hold a 4-1 lead at the first intermission. The Cubs would rally back to tie the game in the second period before Arberry came buzzing down the right wing and let loose a high wrister that banked perfectly into the tiny airspace where post and crossbar meet.

Rhett Ewen scored two goals for the Bombers, who landed an empty net marker in the final minute of the game. For the Cubs, Briir Long clawed out two goals.

Gabriel Le Houillier’s hat trick led the Nationals to their first win of the competition and kept the CCHL champions, the pre-tournament favourites, in the hunt for a playoff spot.

Mavrick Brunet had one goal and three assists for Rockland, who outshot Thunder Bay 51-21.

The Nationals still need to win their last against Niverville on Wednesday – and will be rooting for Canmore or Thunder Bay to win on Tuesday.

Six different goalscorers struck for the Bearcats as the MHL champions blew open a tight 2-1 game with four second period goals.

The Patriots had scored 15 goals in their opening two games but were stymied by Bearcats goaltender Louca Connolly, who made 40 saves.

The victory puts the two teams tied at six points with identical two wins and one loss records while the other three teams in the pool are all on three points.

OVERTIME: All games are being streamed as pay-per-view on HNLive.ca, with Sunday’s championship game also available on TSN+. … Patrinos Steak House & Pub is hosting all-ages watch parties throughout the Centennial Cup to bring Canmore Eagles’ fans together to cheer on and celebrate the team. … The Canmore Eagles Go Fund Me page, is nearing its goal of $35,000 to cover expenses and give the players an experience they will forever cherish. The fund currently is at more than $32,300. For more information go to gofundme.com/f/canmore-eagles-at-the-centennial-cup-in-prince-edward-island.

(RW-OTW-OTL-RL—Pts)

Pool A: 1. Canmore (2-1-0-0—8), 2. Niverville (1-1-0-0—5), 3. Summerside (1-0-1-1—4), 4. Rockland (1-0-1-1—4), 5. Thunder Bay (0-0-0-3—0).

Pool B: 1. Truro (2-0-0-1—6), 2. Toronto (2-0-0-1—6), 3. CF de Longueuil (1-0-0-1—3), 4. Great Sudbury (1-0-0-2—3), 5. Flin Flon (1-0-0-2—3).

(All times MT)

Tuesday, May 12: Greater Sudbury vs CF de Longueuil, 9 a.m.; Niverville vs Canmore, 1 p.m.; Thunder Bay vs Summerside, 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 13: CF de Longueuil vs Toronto, 9 a.m.; Rockland vs Niverville, 1 p.m.; Truro vs Flin Flon, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, May 15: Quarter-final No. 1, 1 p.m.; Quarter-final No. 2, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 16: Semifinal No. 1, 1 p.m.; Semifinal No. 2, 4:30 p.m.

Sunday: May 17: Championship Game, 4 p.m.

May 7: Greater Sudbury 3 Toronto 8; Rockland 2 Canmore 3 (OT); Niverville 5 Summerside 4 (OT)

May 8: Flin Flon 0 CF de Longueuil 1; Canmore 3 Thunder Bay 2; Greater Sudbury 4 Truro 1.

May 9: Thunder Bay 2 Niverville 7; Flin Flon 2 Toronto 7; Summerside 4 Rockland 2

May 10: Truro 2 CF de Longueuil 1; Summerside 1 Canmore 5

May 11:  Flin Flon 6 Greater Sudbury 4; Rockland 8 Thunder Bay 2; Toronto x Truro x