UPCOMING HOME GAMES:
Friday, October 9 – Camrose Kodiaks 7 PM
Saturday, October 10 – Calgary Mustangs 7 PM
With the first 10 regular season games of the 2015-16 Alberta Junior Hockey League now in the history book, Canmore Eagle General Manager and Head Coach Andrew Milne is relatively pleased with his club’s 5-4-1 record.
Canmore wrapped up their first 10 game segment of their 60-game schedule on Tuesday night with a tough 4-3 overtime shootout loss to the Okotoks Oilers before 355 fans at the Canmore Recreation Centre.
The Eagles managed to convert of two of eight power play opportunities for goals but it wasn’t enough to secure the victory.
“We had plenty of chances to win the game but our power play kind of went stale out there,” said Milne. “We almost had too many power play opportunities and the guys seemed to get discouraged when they didn’t score early. We did a lot of good things on the ice to generate the power play opportunities, but we gave them two easy goals. Goaltender Ryan Bontorin thought their third goal went out of play and the first one went off the bar and right to their guy. We really didn’t give them much all night, but it is, what it is.”
Braden Saretsky (2nd), Matt Forchuk (6th) and Logan Ferguson (4th) scored for the Eagles while goaltender Ryan Bontorin took the loss stopping 30 of 33 Oiler shots.
Forchuk, who was named the Eagles “Star of the Game” for the third straight night, also added an assist and now has 14 points in 10 games played. The second-year Eagle now sits in sixth-place in the AJHL scoring parade.
With their top five scorers and both starting goalies from last year ‘s lineup all moving on, Milne is pleased with his club’s progress to date.
“We had a tough first two games against Brooks to start the season, but we have gone 5-2-1 in our last eight games so we are making progress,” said Milne. “We have brought in a lot of new players and it takes time for everyone to feel comfortable with each other and with our systems. Our veterans are leading and our rookies are adapting well to the fast pace of the AJHL. So far so good, we are moving in the right direction.”
NOTEBOOK: The Eagles will play two home games this weekend with the first-place Camrose Kodiaks coming to Canmore on Friday and the Calgary Mustangs following up on Saturday night . . .Eagle rookie forward Coy Prevost left last night’s game in the second period after taking a stray puck to his ear which required upwards of 15 stitches to repair. . . .There are still a few tickets remaining for the Dallas Sport Weekend raffle draw. The draw will take place during the first intermission of Saturday’s game. Tickets are just $20 and are available at Can-Bow Motors, Lockwood Autobody and at Friday’s Eagle game.