Hat tricks trip up Eagles

For the second successive game, the Canmore Eagles were the victim of an opponent scoring three goals. On Saturday in Calgary, Grant Reid had a four-point game, including three goals, to lead the Canucks to a 5-3 victory in the team’s season and home opener.

It was the same score Canmore lost by Friday in Drumheller, when the Dragons’ Brady Gallo went off for a five-point game, which featured a third-period hat trick.

Both Calgary and Drumheller had extended pre-seasons while Canmore are coming off a whirlwind training camp and just two exhibition games – both against the Canucks: winning at home and losing on the road the previous weekend.

Although Calgary, winners last spring of Canada’s junior A championship, changed its head coach following its training camp and six-game (three wins and three losses) exhibition season with Mat Robinson making his debut behind the bench. Robinson replaced Jay Pylpuik, who was hired to replace Brad Moran, who stepped down after leading the Canucks to an AJHL title and its first Centennial Cup victory since 1995.

Just like Friday night, the Eagles would strike first and hold a 1-0 lead after the opening period. Once again, it would be Cohen Daoust scoring from an almost similar position as his first goal of the season. The third-year forward, near the right-wing post, had an open net to slide the puck into after teammates Aidan Tkachuk and Connor Watson each had a whack at the puck before it slid across the front of goal.

Rookie forward Miller Komarniski made his season debut on Saturday, scoring Canmore’s second goal, off a cross-ice, backhand pass from Reid Larson at 8:25. Komarniski has put up two goals and two assists in four games as an Eagle, with the other three points coming in three games last season.

Calgary would answer the 2-0 deficit quickly and rallied for three goals to close out the period leading 3-2. Reid scored 23 seconds after the Eagles’ second goal, followed by a second goal on the power play at 10:29. Riley Bracko gave Calgary the lead at 10:29.

In the third period, Adam M’Hamed gave Calgary a two-goal lead at 5:09 shortly after Canmore looked to have tied the game only to have it denied by referee Justin Slimm, who said he was in the process of blowing the play dead before Tkachuk’s rebound shot went into the goal.

 Byson Insinger scored his first goal for the Eagles this season at 10:06 but the tying goal eluded the team.

Reid completed his hat trick with a goal into an empty net with five seconds remaining on the game clock.

Calgary ousthot Canmore 32-25, including a 17-5 edge in the middle frame. Alex Scheiwiller was in goal for the second consecutive night for the Eagles. Noah Nelson was the netminder for the Canucks.

On the power play, Canmore went 0-for-1 while Calgary finished 1-for-3. Just four minor penalties were called in the contest.

Canmore heads to Olds on Tuesday (Sept. 23), Olds Sportsplex, 7 p.m. The game can be seen on Flohockey (choose the visitor’s feed for Eagles’ commentary).

OVERTIME: Also drawing into the lineup for his first game this season were rookie defenceman Connor Watson. … The lineup shuffle meant third goaltender Grady Peterson was joined in the stands by fellow rookie Keegan De Sa and Eagles’ captain Casey Black (out with an undisclosed injury), who both featured in Friday’s game. … The first home game is Saturday, Sept. 27 vs the Bonnyville Pontiacs, Canmore Recreation Centre, 7 p.m., followed by a visit from the Lloydminster Bobcats on Sunday, Sept. 28, Canmore Recreation Centre, 2 p.m.