Eagles still chasing elusive first win
The Canmore Eagles would outscore the Calgary Canucks over the final two periods of their Alberta Junior Hockey League clash on Sunday (Sept. 24) however another sluggish start to a game would send the team to its third successive loss to start this season.
The Canucks scored four first-period goals and held a 5-0 lead just 90 seconds into the second period and then held off the Eagles the remainder of the contest played at the Max Bell Centre in Calgary. Canmore has been outscored 9-1 in the first periods of games this campaign.
For Canmore, each scoring their first goals of the season were Zach Coutu and Emanuel Hudson in second period and Logan Ziegler with the lone third-period goal.
For Calgary, Ty Hipkin, Sam Lozinski, Nolan Paquette and Bowden Singleton scored in the first period. Dylan Bidyk and Gavin Schmidt scored in the second period.
Zach Coutu’s first junior hockey goal, at 9:35 of the second period, was a quick wrist shot from the slot after receiving a pass from his twin brother Carter Coutu, who was stationed below the goal line just off the right-wing post.
The Eagles then scored a pair of power play markers. Hudson would fire a shot from the blue line to make it a 6-2 game at 14:35 of the second period. Ziegler would put away a rebound at 16:06 of the third period coming in off the left wing after Tyler Loughman took the initial shot.
Canmore outshot Calgary 30-24. Matthew Malin started the game for the Eagles but was pulled after giving up four goals on nine shots. John MacPherson played the remainder of the game making 13 saves on 15 shots. Spencer Borsos was in goal for the Canucks.
On the power play, Canmore finished 2-for-6 and Calgary 1-for-4.
Next up for Canmore, now with two regulation time losses and one shootout defeat, is the Spruce Grove Saints (3-2-0-0) on Tuesday (Sept. 26), 7 p.m. at the Canmore Recreation Centre.
The Eagles finish up September participating in the AJHL Showcase at the Max Bell Centre taking on the Canucks again on Wednesday (Sept. 27) at 5 p.m. and then the Blackfalds Bulldogs on Saturday (Sept. 30) at 8 p.m. All 16 teams will be at the Showcase, which runs Wednesday through Saturday with four games per day – beginning at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The full schedule is available at ajhl.ca.