Let’s play some overtime!
The Canmore Eagles are fashioning quite a reputation this Alberta Junior Hockey League season.
Eight games into the regular season, the team has featured in four overtime games as both contests at the AJHL Showcase in Blackfalds this past weekend were decided in 3-on-3 action. Add in the goal difference in six games has just been one goal, and just two goals in the other games, and the team is providing a competitive and entertaining outing for hockey fans every time they take to the Ice.
On Saturday (Oct. 1) afternoon, Canmore defeated the Grande Prairie Storm 4-3. Riley Dekowny wired a high, hard wrist shot far side, top corner from the top of the left-wing faceoff circle at 3:21 of the five-minute session for the Eagles’ third overtime/shootout victory in as many games this season.
It was Dekowny’s second goal of the game. Other Eagles’ goals came from Cole Wirun and Mason Bueckert, both in the second period.
Grande Prairie led 1-0 after one period, with teams knotted at 2-2 after 40 minutes. Ayden Peters came through with the hat trick for the Storm including the game-tying goal to send this game to overtime. It was a power-play marker with nine seconds remaining.
Canmore outshot Grande Prairie 28-23 with Matthew Malin in goal for the Eagles and Connor Mackenzie in goal for the Storm.
Grande Prairie was 1-for-5 on the power play while Canmore went 0-for-4.
In a game that started before midday Sunday (Oct. 2), the Eagles’ extra time fortunes ended when the Lloydminster Bobcats scratched out a 3-2 win. Ryan Schendel gave the northerners the win at 1:58 of overtime, pushing home a loose puck in front of the goal.
Also scoring for the Bobcats were Nik Hoogendoorn and Jayven Leslie, who held a 2-0 lead early in the second period.
Before the middle frame ended, the Eagles got back on even terms on goals by Wirun and Rhett Dekowny.
Shots on goals were 45-36 in favour of Lloydminster, with Freddie Halyk in goal for the Bobcats and Andreai Proctor-Ramirez in goal for the Eagles.
Lloydminster was 1-for-4 on the power play while Canmore went 0-for-3.
Canmore has scored just four power-play goals – and just one in the last four games – from a league-high 45 power-play opportunities (8.9%) while surrendering 13 man-advantage goals during 38 shorthanded situations (65.8%). The percentages place the Eagles 15th in the both the league power play and penalty killing rankings.
Canmore is now 3-4-1-0 for the season. The Eagles have a busy October with 12 games scheduled. Next up, the Eagles they host the Drumheller Dragons (2-4-0-1) on Friday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. at the Canmore Recreation Centre.