Matt Forchuk scored once and set up two goals to run his points scoring streak to 10 games as the Canmore Eagles defeated the Olds Grizzlys 6-3 in Alberta Junior Hockey League action Friday night before 475 fans at the Olds Sportsplex.
Forchuk took over the AJHL scoring lead with another stellar performance. The records show that he as 22 points (6G-16A) through the opening 10 games of the season but that could be added to on Sunday.
Forchuk scored the Canmore’s first goal but he was awarded an assist while Colby Livingstone was given credit for the goal. He also deserved an assist on the first of two empty-net goals poking the puck off a Grizzly defender’s stick to set Coy Prevost in alone on goal.
Both have to undergo video review before they can be properly assigned said Andrew Milne, Eagles GM and head coach.
Anyways you slice it though it was another stellar performance from the No. 10, who also wears the ‘C’ when the Eagles play on the road.
Also scoring for Canmore were Adam Tisdale, with two and now six on the season, and Livingstone did score one, his sixth, and Daylan Marchi, his fifth. Prevost’s goal was his third.
Olds goals came from Austin Holmes, with two and now four on the season, and James Gaume, his second.
Canmore trailed 2-0 after the first period one Holmes’s first and Gaume’s goal while outshooting their hosts 13-12.
“I thought (Olds) got lucky on a couple of shots early but we took over and dominated the rest of the game,” said Milne.
“We knew if we continued to play at the level we can, and put pressure on their (defence) the result would come.”
Canmore tied it up by the mid-point of the second period on goals by Forchuk and Livingstone, then took the lead on a power-play goal by Tisdale at 13:23 as they outshot Olds 17-7 in the period.
Tisdale added an insurance marker in the third period giving him four goals in the last two games.
The goal was much needed as Holmes would make it a one-goal game on the power play with under eight minutes to play.
Before Olds’ fourth goal, Eagles’ Braden Saretsky was awarded a penalty shot after being tackled from behind when he broke up the Grizzlys’ attack during a penalty killing stint. He would put thee puck just wide of the left post on a backhand.
A pair of empty net goals inside the final 90 seconds put the result on ice.
The final shots were 41-32 in favour of the Eagles. Ryan Bontorin was in goal for Canmore. Ben Giesbrecht was in goal for Olds.
Canmore improved its record to 5-4-1 and fifth in the South Division. Olds at 3-5-2 is sixth in the division.
Canmore’s next game is Thursday versus the Whitecourt Wolverines (7 p.m., Canmore Recreation Centre).
EAGLES NEST: Not dressing for Canmore were Jonas Gordon (sickness), Jake Ashton and Colton Young. … Ferguson has assists in four consecutive games. … Canmore is tied on points with Camrose at 11 for fourth in the South, but the Kodiaks have played one less game and are 5-3-1 after losing 5-3 to the Whitecourt Wolverines on Saturday.
rullyot@postmedia.com
