Simon Philp had a three point performance and was the Canmore Eagle's “Star of the Game” in Sunday afternoon's 5-4 road victory in Fort McMurray.
NEXT HOME GAME – Okotoks Oilers – Tuesday, Sept. 23 – 7 PM
Rookie goaltender Levi Nelson stopped 40 of 44 Fort McMurray shots to lead the Canmore Eagles to a hard-fought 5-4 Alberta Junior Hockey League victory over the hometown Oil Barons on Sunday afternoon.
The game was played before 1,320 fans at the Casman Centre.
For Nelson, who played Triple AAA Midget for Edmonton's Canadian Athletic Club last year, it was his first ever start in Junior A hockey and a well earned victory.
Eagle captain Connor Wilson had a pair of goals (3&4), while Simon Philp (1), Ryley Risling (4), and Lane Olson (2) had the other Canmore goals. Philp also chipped in with a pair of assists and was named the Eagle’s “Star of the Game”.
The road victory evens the Eagle’s early season record to 2-2, while the Oil Baron’s record drops to 5-2. It was also the Oil Baron’s first loss at home this season and marked the first time the Eagles have won in Fort McMurray since September 26, 2009.
“They really came after us in the first half of the game, but we stay composed and stuck with our game plan,” said Eagle’s Head Coach and General Manager Andrew Milne. “You have to give credit to our leadership group and to Levi who was playing his first ever AJHL game in a very tough building against one of the best teams in the league.
“As a group, we were determined, we never gave up, and I think we controlled the second half of the game. This was a good character win for us at a time when we were certainly looking for something to build off.”
NOTEBOOK: Second year man Ryley Risling now has a goal in all four Eagle games this year. . . Connor Wilson now has seven points in just four games and currently sits in a tie for sixth-place in the AJHL scoring parade.