Eagles snag OT thriller to open the Centennial Cup.

There would be no soft opening for the Canmore Eagles as they began their quest for a Centennial Cup, but they handled their first hurdle with authority.

Canmore, unranked by the Canadian Junior A Hockey League all season, bested No. 1 Rockland Nationals, owners of that top spot since Dec. 15, 2025. The Eagles got off to a flying start and weathered the eventual storm from the Canadian Central Hockey League champions, winners of 64 of 68 regular season and playoff games entering the tournament.

Canmore’s captain John Szabo wired a shot high into the goal at 1:03 of overtime to give his team a 3-2 victory on Day 1 of the Centennial Cup. Working with the power play, the winning shot came just a few seconds after he rifled a shot off the post.

“Me and (Will) Lutic were rolling and getting chances, then that last one he seamed it through a couple of guys and Chucky [Aidan Tkachuk] did a good job screening the goalie and giving me a lot of time to get the shot off. It made it easy on my end,” said Szabo.

It was a shot he wasn’t expecting to take.

“I didn’t know Lutic would be passing to me on that one,” noted Szabo. “I thought he would be shooting or passing to (Hudson) Landmark at the back door. I wasn’t expecting it.”

General Manager and Head Coach Andrew Milne also praised Lutic for his heads-up play on the game winner.

“They [Rockland] did every effort to try and take Lutic away, and Lutic is smart enough to know when they are double teaming him someone else has to be open to get to the net,” said Milne.

In addition to setting up the game winner, Lutic also scored the opening goal in the final minute of the first period. Owen Mastroianni gave Canmore a 2-0 lead through 40 minutes. Szabo also earned an assist for a two-point game. Ryder Dembo had helpers on the first two goals.

Gabriel Le Houillier, who registered 120 points (59G-61A) during the CCHL’s 55-game regular season and added another 33 points (18G-15A) in 13 playoff games, scored both Rockland goals. The Lorraine, QC, product has registered at least one point in 37 consecutive games – both regular season and playoffs – dating back to Dec. 20, 2025.

Canmore outshot Rockland 35-29.  In goal for the Eagles was Alex Scheiwiller. In net for the Nationals was Kayden Newton.

On the power play, the Eagles went 2-for-5 and the Nationals went 1-for-1.

“That is a really good team we played,” said Szabo. “We got up on them early and they pushed back on us, but it’s big time we pushed to the very end and got that last goal.”

From the opening face-off, the Alberta Junior Hockey League champions moved the puck into Rockland’s zone and kept it there until the defending team took a penalty two minutes into the contest. The pressure didn’t relent during the power play although the Eagles struggled to get quality shots.

Given enough chances though it would be just a matter of time before Canmore would find the goal and that came in the final minute of the period on the Eagles’ third power play. Lutic worked the puck into the high slot and finished with a top-shelf snipe through a crowd.

Canmore outshot Rockland 15-4 in the opening period.

Mastroianni would extend the lead to 2-0 at 9:58 of the second period when sent in for a short breakaway off a pass from Szabo on a play that began with Dembo intercepting a Rockland pass at the Eagles’ blue line. Mastroianni got in tight on Newton and flipped the biscuit into the roof of the net.

“They have some definite high end, skilled players,” said Milne. “By no means (after two periods) did I feel we had it under control.”

The Nationals did rally in the third period. The first goal coming on the CCHL champion’s only power play after Tavynn Hamilton was ruled off with a double minor for kneeing at 3:07. Le Houillier deflected a shot past Scheiwiller at 3:48.

On the back half of Hamilton’s penalty, Rockland thought they had equalized, only to have it ruled “no goal” as Daniel Myloserdnyy used his glove to punch a bouncing puck into the net.

The Nationals kept up the attack – outshooting the Eagles 15-9 in the frame – and had another chance to tie the game nine minutes in when Mavrick Brunet was sent in on a breakaway and denied by a razor sharp Scheiwiller.

Rockland would tie the game at 13:27 when Le Houillier slapped the puck into the net during a scramble in front of goal that had Scheiwiller stretched out.

With 21 seconds remaining, Canmore was awarded its fifth power play when Tkachuk was hooked moving towards the goal. The Eagles would carry that advantage into the 3-on-3 overtime session.

Operating with a 4-on-3 situation, the Eagles quickly moved the puck into and around the Nationals’ zone until Lutic found Szabo open near the left-wing, face-off dot.

“I think we are going to surprise a lot of people in this tournament,” said Szabo. “… there are not too many people that don’t think we are as good as we are. Maybe, they will rethink that now after seeing us play. I think we caught (Rockland) off guard with our tenacity, our speed, our forecheck, everything.”

Szabo downplays the victory puts Canmore, which is representing the defending champion league with the AJHL winners of four of the last five Centennial Cups, in the driver’s seat when it comes to predicting the winner of this 10-team tournament.

“I don’t think that is the mentality we should have,” said Szabo. “We came into this as the underdog … and I think that is the mentality we have to carry to the end.”

Canmore will next play the Superior International Junior Hockey League champion Thunder Bay North Stars, on Friday, May 8, at 1 p.m. MT (available on HNLive.ca).

Milne is clear about the mindset he wants from his group in its next game and carrying over the next 10 days, putting it bluntly: “We are approaching it as seven Game 7s, so this (win) is just one of those and there are six more.”

The victory gives Canmore two points as it came in overtime while Rockland picks up a single point. Regulation time victories are worth three points when it comes to calculating the standings.

Also on opening day:

The battle between two teams the Eagles will eventually face, was a back-and-forth affair that featued four lead changes between the Manitoba Junior Hockey League champion and No. 2-ranked Nighthawks and the host Western Capitals.

Niverville’s Marlen Edwards stole the puck off a pass up the middle in the Summerside end and scored 14 seconds into overtime for the final lead change to give the MJHL champions a 5-4 victory.

Edwards also had Niverville’s first goal in a game that saw Summerville open the scoring and hold a 4-3 lead. Edwards also set up Adam Vigfusson for the tying goal with less than seven minutes to play to force the 3-on-3 overtime session.

The result has Canmore and Niverville tied at the top of the Pool A with two points, with Rockland and Summerside at one point. Thunder Bay is the last time to begin play when they take on Canmore on Friday.

Kicking off Pool B, Cole Cooksey came through with a hat trick, including the game’s first goal just 22 seconds after puck drop, and Anthony Giacalone scored two goals as the OJHL champions routed the NOJHL representatives in the opening game of the tournament.

The No. 4 Patriots outshot the Cubs 48-37 taking a 2-0 lead after one period and adding three goals in each of the second and third periods. Nico Armellin was in goal for the Patriots.

(All times MT)

Greater Sudbury 3 Toronto 8

Niverville 5 Summerside 4 (OT)

Flin Flon vs CF de Longueuil, 9 a.m.

Greater Sudbury vs Truro, 4:30 p.m.

Thunder Bay vs Niverville, 9 a.m.

Flin Flon vs Toronto, 1 p.m.

Summerside vs Rockland, 4:30 p.m.

Truro vs CF de Longueuil, 1 p.m.

Flin Flon vs Greater Sudbury, 9 a.m.

Rockland vs Thunder Bay, 1 p.m.

Toronto vs Truro, 4:30 p.m.

Greater Sudbury vs CF de Longueuil, 9 a.m.

Thunder Bay vs Summerside, 4:30 p.m.

CF de Longueuil vs Toronto, 9 a.m.

Rockland vs Niverville, 1 p.m.

Truro vs Flin Flon, 4:30 p.m.

Quarter-final No. 1, 1 p.m.

Quarter-final No. 2, 4:30 p.m.

Semifinal No. 1, 1 p.m.

Semifinal No. 2, 4:30 p.m.

Championship Game, 4 p.m. (available on TSN+)

OVERTIME: The Canmore Eagles Go Fund Me page, is closing in on 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 $32,500. For more information go to gofundme.com/f/canmore-eagles-at-the-centennial-cup-in-prince-edward-island. … All games are being streamed by pay-per-view on HNLive.ca, with the 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.