Eagles split keeps team top of the South

The Canmore Eagles extended their winning streak to four games on Friday only to have it end with a Saturday loss. The results were enough to hold onto top spot in the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s South Division for another week.
Playing before two more sold out Canmore Recreation Centre crowds, the Eagles defeated the Devon Xtreme 2-1 but fell 5-3 to the North Division leading Whitecourt Wolverines.
Canmore (23-16-1-0) is at 47 points, one better than the Camrose Kodiaks (22-17-2-0) and Drumheller Dragons (20-27-2-4) following weekend results. The Kodiaks split a doubleheader with the Storm in Grande Prairie, winning via a shootout 4-3 and losing 6-2. The Dragons made up two points on the Eagles with a home-ice sweep of the Bonnyville Pontiacs 5-2 and 3-1.
The Calgary Canucks (19-16-2-1) are fourth on 41 points with a Sunday afternoon game against Whitecourt still to be played.
Canmore’s leading scorer Cohen Daoust ended a five-game scoring drought with the opening goal in Saturday’s game . He also picked up an assist to improve to 57 points (23G-34A) on the season — the fifth best mark in the AJHL.
Aidan Tkachuk continues his hot streak, with points in 13 consecutive games (11G-13A). He now has 52 points (22G-30A) for seventh in league scoring.
Both Canmore goaltenders continue to shine. Despite taking the loss Saturday, Alex Scheiwiller (15-11) leads the league in save percentage (.919) and is sixth in goals-against average at 2.97. Hudson Sedo (8-6) was the star of the game for Canmore in Friday’s win and his recent form (12 goals-against in seven starts) has lowered his goals-against average to fourth best 2.73 along with an impressive .913 save percentage, third best in the AJHL.
Canmore is still without the services of several players: Casey Black (shoulder) is doubtful for the remainder of the season; Reid Larson (hand) is expected back at some point in February; A return date for Gus Schill (leg) is still to be determined; Carter Kowalyk (hip) is day-to-day but has missed the last three games; John Szabo missed Friday due to the flu but was back in the lineup on Saturday.
Next up for Canmore is their second and final trip of the season to Banff on Tuesday, Feb. 3, to take on the Olds Grizzlys. Game time is 7 p.m. Tickets are available online at canmoreeagles.com.
Xtreme 1 at Eagles 2
Sedo made 33 saves and Haruki Morikawa scored his first goal of the season as the Eagles prevailed over a pesky Devon, sixth place in the North Division but a team that has given Canmore fits all season.
The two teams had met the previous Sunday (Jan. 25) in Devon, with Canmore winning 4-1 and Friday’s win evened the season series at two wins apiece.
Canmore scored both its goals in the second period.
Banff native Morikawa’s first goal in 50 games — at 7:50 — was one for the blooper reel more than the highlight reel. His point shot went off the right pad of the goaltender, hit the backboards came back to hit off the backside of the goaltender and then over the goal line as the Xtreme netminder fumbled in his attempt to grab the bouncing puck.
Hudson Landmark (11) added to the lead at 17:48. His first goal and first point in four games after having a nine-game points streak snapped.
Maddox Mason (2) ended Sedo’s shutout bid at 5:48 of the third period. The Canmore goaltender faced 16 shots in the final frame to run a personal winning streak to three games, with a 1.00 GAA and .969 save percentage.
Just five minor penalties were assessed in the game with Devon failing to score on any of its three power plays while not awarding Canmore’s power play unit any ice time.
Shots on goal were 34-30 for Devon with Tyler Swanson (4-11/3.80/.903) in goal for the Xtreme.
Wolverines 5 at Eagles 3
Kyle Tucker (17) scored at 14:53 of the third period to snap a 3-3 tie and give the No.1 team in the AJHL its league-leading 29th victory in 40 games.
Daoust (23) would open the scoring at 15:24 of the first period, snapping the puck home from just off the right-wing post off a pass from Tkachuk.
Whitecourt then got second period goals from Quentin Bourne (7), Brendan Ruskowski (18) and AJHL scoring leader Jalen Bianchet (37) to take a 3-1 lead by 6:37 of the second period.
The Eagles would rally in the back half of the period with Miller Komarniski (3) making it a one-goal deficit at 10:16 and Will Lutic (13) tying the game at 19:36.
It would then be Tucker from Bianchet, who improved to 67 points on the season for the third-period game winner.
Ruskowki (19) would add his second of the game into an empty net with 55 seconds remaining.
Shots on goal were 42-38 in favour of Whitecourt with Elliott Pratt (20-7/2.32/.917) in goal for the Wolverines.
The respective divisional leaders split their season series with each team posting two road wins.
OVERTIME: Following Tuesday’s game in Banff, Canmore will head out for two games in Fort McMurray, taking on the Oil Barons on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. … Canmore Eagles are always in need of volunteers to help with game day experiences whether you are new to the game or an avid hockey supporter. Email info@camoreeagles.com for more information on opportunities and perks that come with being part of the Game Day Crew.

Story by Russ Ullyot