Photo: Luke Simpson had two more goals last night giving him four goals in four games – Julie Wilson photo.
They maybe just four games into their 2013-14 Alberta Junior Hockey League regular season, but the Canmore Eagles are certainly off to a lofty flying start.
The Eagles made it three wins in a row on Wednesday night as they defeated the Calgary Mustangs 6-3 at the Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary.
It was the Eagles first win at the FDB Arena since Nov. 2010 and the first time the Eagles have scored six goals on the road since Jan. 2011.
Canmore was once again led offensively by their veteran players as 20-year-olds Luke Simpson and Trey Phillips had a pair of goals each, and Bryan Arneson had a single. Rookie Lane Olson had the other Eagle goal.
Canmore, who enjoyed a 4-1 lead early in the second period, outshot the Mustangs 30-28 and went 2 for 10 on the powerplay.
“We came out fired up and ready to play, but we got a little cocky after we scored the 4th goal and we let things slip a bit,” said Head Coach and General Manager Andrew Milne. “But we re-grouped and came back out in the third period and got the momentum back. Trey Phillips was terrific for us again and it was a great response from him after getting his University of Vermont scholarship earlier this week.”
The Eagles will now head up to Fort McMurray to take on the 5-0 Oil Barons on Saturday night before returning to Canmore for a home date against the Olds Grizzlys on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
NOTEBOOK: With his two goals last night, Simpson now has four goals in four games. . . .With a 3-1 record, Canmore is now tied with the Brooks Bandits for first-place in the AJHL Southern Division standings. . . Eagle defenceman John Stevens, who was injured in the pre-season, is now skating with the club and is hoping to be back in the lineup for the AJHL Showcase games in Spruce Grove on Sept. 26 and 27. . . .Goaltender Cameron Barnes picked up the win last night and is now 2-1 on the season. Barnes will get a little taste of the NHL today as he has been asked to practice with the New York Rangers who will be in Banff for the next few days for pre-season training.