Eagles strike for eight

The Olds Grizzlys have surely seen enough of the Canmore Eagles yet still have to play them two more times during this Alberta Junior Hockey League season.

Canmore struck for eight goals before a packed Banff Fenlands Recreation Centre crowd, announced as 800, en route to its fourth consecutive lopsided victory.

Tuesday’s (Feb. 3) game finished 8-2 and marks the third time the Eagles have put up at least eight goals on the Grizzlys this season: previously, Canmore has won 9-4 on Sept. 23, 8-0 on Jan. 2 and 5-0 on Jan. 10.

In the latest installment, Canmore goals came from seven different players

Bryson Insinger (14) began the scoring at 9:46 of the first period when he swept home a loose puck that lay behind the Olds goaltender off a shot by Will Lutic.

Cole Wadsworth (3), Ryder Dembo (3) and Cohen Daoust (24) stretched the lead to 4-0 before the period ended.

Goals from Landon Scott (2) and Keegan De Sa (4) early in the second period made it 6-0.

Olds would score both its goals in the middle frame. Finn Bagley (4) and Jordin St. Louis scored either side of a John Szabo (14) tap-in off an Aidan Tkachuk pass.

Tkachuk assisted on three of the first seven goals to extend his points scoring streak to 14 games and 27 points (11G-16A). With 55 points (22G-33A) overall, the 19-year-old Calgary native is seventh in league scoring.

Insinger (15) then completed the scoring parade with his second goal of the game and the lone third-period marker, coming with 95 seconds remaining.

Daoust added an assist to go with his goal and is now on 59 points (24G-35A) for fourth overall in league scoring.

Canmore outshot Olds 46-34. Alex Scheiwiller (16-12/2.93/.920) was in goal for the Eagles. Corbin Sanderman (5-16/4.82/.875) started for the Grizzlys, giving up six goals on 20 shots before being replaced by Cole Prelusky (1-3/3.65/.900) at 5:26 of the second period.

Each team was 0-for-3 on the power play.

Canmore (24-16-1-0) now has 49 points, solidifying its hold on first place in the South Division by moving three points clear of the Camrose Kodiaks (22-17-2-0) and Drumheller Dragons (20-17-2-4), and eight up on the fourth-place Calgary Canucks (19-17-2-1).

Olds (12-27-2-2) is fifth in the South Division. The Grizzlys will meet the Eagles twice in the final month of the season: March 3 in Olds and Canmore’s final regular-season game on March 13 at the Canmore Recreation Centre.

The Eagles next action is a doubleheader with the North Division’s Oil Barons at Centerfire Place in Fort McMurray (23-14-5-1, 4th place) on Saturday, Feb. 7, 7 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 8, 2 p.m.

OVERTIME: The 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@canmoreeagles.com for more information on opportunities and perks that come with being part of the Game Day Crew. … Can’t get to a game in person, you can follow the Canmore Eagles at home or on the road with a Flohockey account. Go to flohockey.tv.