Photo : Sei Spo Press
Eagles win exciting season opener
The Canmore Eagles won their Alberta Junior Hockey League season opener in climactic fashion 5-4 over the Drumheller Dragons.
Played before a loud and supportive home crowd at the Canmore Recreation Centre, veteran Riley Dekowny scored the decisive goal in the fourth round of a penalty shootout to send their supporters home happy on Friday (Sept. 16).
The back-and-forth game saw the Drumheller Dragons take a 1-0 lead in the first period, with Ty Daneault scoring on the power play just 4:06 into the game.
Canmore stormed back in the second period to take a 3-1 lead on a trio of goals within a 42-second span. Finn McLaughlin, Riley Dekowny and Isaac Suppin scored for the Eagles. The period ended 3-2 with Connor Poffenroth replying for the visitors.
Canmore got its two-goal lead back just 59 seconds into the third frame when Vince Scott deposited the puck into the Drumheller goal. However, Vann Yuhas, who already had two assists in the game, then scored two goals just 13 seconds apart in the fifth minute of play to knot the scored at 4-4.
Both teams had plenty of chances to score the winner during the remainder of regulation and during the 3-on-3, five-minute overtime session but Canmore goaltender Andreai Proctor Ramirez and Drumheller goaltender William Dyke, who replaced Garrett Fuller after the Eagles’ third goal, came up with some big saves.
Neither team could score during the first three rounds of shots, then Dekowny stepped up took the puck down the left side and wired a shot hip high over the goaltender’s catching glove for the go-ahead goal. Proctor-Ramirez then turned aside Ty Whitford, sending his intended blocker side shot over the crossbar, giving the Eagles their opening night victory.
Shots on goal were 42-27 in favour of Drumheller. The Dragons went 2-for-7 on the power play while Canmore was 1-for-3.
Next up for the Eagles is the Blackfalds Bulldogs on Saturday (Sept. 17), 7 p.m. at the Canmore Recreation Centre.
Game 2 Power failure costs Eagles against Bulldogs
The Canmore Eagles couldn’t stage another dramatic victory on Saturday (Sept. 17), losing 3-2 to the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
Another entertaining game at the Canmore Recreation Centre saw the hometown Eagles come back from two one-goal deficits but unable to find a third goal despite having some late power plays that had the home crowd hoping.
Brett Meerman scored twice for the Bulldogs, giving him three on the season, but it was a third-period goal by Jack Plandowski that stood up as the game winner for the visitors.
Canmore goals came from Vince Scott, his second of the season, and Carter Myrol.
Canmore’s power play went 0-for-8 in the contest, including a late man-advantage for a delay of game call. Bulldogs defence Tyler Bates dislodged the goal as Eagles’ Riley Dekowny fired at the open net denying what would have been the tying goal.
Blackfalds was 0-for-3 on their power-play chances.
Blackfalds outshot Canmore 38-37 with Matthew Malin in goal for the Eagles and Charlie Zolin in net for the Bulldogs.
Canmore is now 1-1-0-0 on the season and next up is the Brooks Bandits, who have won both their opening weekend games, on Tuesday (Sept. 20), 7 p.m. at the Canmore Recreation Centre.
Photo By Sei Spo Press
