Eagle defenceman Braiden Doucette scored the overtime winner to give the Eagles a 3-2 victory over the Camrose Kodiaks on Friday night. (Noel Rogers photo)
UPCOMING HOME GAME:
Saturday, October 10 – Calgary Mustangs – 7 PM
With the assistance of two recent recruits and the scoring prowess of two veteran players, the Canmore Eagles are starting to find their wings.
The Eagles received a sudden-death overtime goal from 20-year-old defenceman Braiden Doucette and rock solid goaltending from 19-year-old Ryan Bontorin to defeat the Camrose Kodiaks 3-2 in Alberta Junior Hockey League action before close to 400 fans at the Canmore Recreation Centre on Friday night.
The win improves the Eagles record to 6-4-1, while the Kodiaks, ranked as the #8 team in the nation, fell to 7-1-2.
Eagle veteran forwards Matt Forchuk and Lane Olson continued their early season heroics as they both scored a goal and added two assists on the night. Both Forchuk and Olson now have 17 points (7 goals and 10 assists) in just 11 games and have moved into second-place in the overall AJHL scoring parade.
Doucette, who came to the Eagles via a trade from the Bonnyville Pontiacs in mid-September, has now scored both a shoot-out and overtime winner for the Eagles and has produced five points in just eight games. The Eagles have also picked up 11 out of a possible 16 points in the AJHL Southern Division standings since his arrival.
“He has done everything we could have asked of him,” said Eagles Head Coach and General Manager Andrew Milne of Doucette. “He is a leader on and off the ice. He shows poise on the ice, has great offensive instincts, and has an excellent shot. He has certainly left his mark on our team to date.”
As for goaltender Bontorin, a late cut of the Olds Grizzlys this fall, Milne is also very impressed with his play to date. Bontorin was selected as the Eagles “Star of the Game” on Friday night stopping 40 of 42 Kodiak shots as Camrose outshot the Eagles 42-26 on the night.
“Ryan made several outstanding saves for us tonight and certainly kept us in the game on many occasions,” said Milne. “ He handles the puck well and has good communication with his defenceman. He has solidified our goaltending situation this year.”
The Eagles will wrap up their mini three-game home stand with a game against the Calgary Mustangs (4-7) on Saturday night. In their only meeting this year, Canmore defeated the Mustangs 3-2 in Calgary on September 17.
NOTEBOOK: The winning ticket for the “Dallas Sports Weekend” raffle will be drawn during the second period intermission of tonight’s home game. There are just a few tickets remaining (30) and they will be available in the arena lobby prior to tonight’s game. The winner will receive airfare to Dallas, Texas for two, two tickets to the NHL game between the Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks, two NFL tickets to the Dallas Cowboys-Seattle Seahawks game and three night’s downtown Dallas accommodation. Tickets are just $20