Colby Livingstone had a six-point game as the Canmore Eagles romped to a 7-2 win over the Drayton Valley Thunder on Friday afternoon in Camrose.
Competing at the annual Alberta Junior Hockey League Showcase, the two teams had the first game of the day, with a noon start. For two periods this game was close with each team scoring twice in the first period and no goals to show in the second period.
However, the Eagles exploded for five in the final period to win the game going away and end a four-game losing streak: three in regulation and one in overtime.
Leading the way was Livingstone with two goals and four assists. He now has 12 points (6G-6A) for the season and surely put his name in the running for AJHL player of the week honours.
“I didn't do anything different, it was just things were going my way today,” said the 20-year-old forward, who had his mother and father in the crowd in Camrose.
“I talked to them afterwards. … It is way better when you have someone to share it with,” said Livingstone.
He had plenty of chances early in the game that he didn't convert but said he didn't let them get to him.
“I knew eventually they had to go in,” said the Creston, B.C. native, who joined the Eagles organization in January of last year. He played in just 18 regular-season games in 2015-16 due to a nagging groin injury, recording seven points (3G-4A).
He was playing for his hometown junior B Thunder Cats of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League at the time.
Livingstone was put on the wing with the team's two most prolific goal scorers and point producers of last season, Matt Forchuk and Logan Ferguson, when the Eagles headed out on a three-game road trip through North Division squads. It is the fifth game the group has been together and in Friday's game the line accounted for 13 points. Ferguson scored twice and had two assists while Forchuk had one goal and to assists. Ferguson now has 10 points (6G-4A) and Forchuk 13 points (5G-8A) on the season.
“It's been going good, we are getting some chemistry now,” said Livingstone.”We all play different styles of game but we battle hard.”
Also scoring for the Eagles were defencemen Brett Stewart, his second goal, and Daley Hamilton, his first junior A goal.
Canmore took a 2-0 lead on goals by Ferguson and Livingstone just 17 seconds apart in the first period.
Drayton Valley rallied to make it 2-2 before the first break on goals by Tyler Benko and Zach Cox, for both their second goals of the season.
Following a scoreless middle frame, the Eagles caught fire as Forchuk scored on the first shift of the third period. After Stewart made it 4-3, Ferguson, Livingstone and Hamilton added goals in a 44-second span with less than six minutes to play to complete the rout.
Canmore outshot Drayton Valley 41-29 with Ryan Bontorin again between the pipes for the Eagles. Parker Tobin started in goal for the Thunder but was pulled after the sixth goal with Joseph McLeod playing the final 5:39 of the game.
Canmore, with a 3-3-1 record, returns home for a rare weekend off, returning to the ice on Tuesday when they head to Calgary to take on the Mustangs (7 p.m., Father David Bauer Arena).
EAGLES NEST: The Canmore Eagles’ fifth annual Town Party is Saturday at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Can-Bow Motors, Lockwood Autobody, Canmore Printcraft and Heart Mountain Store. … Canmore's next home is Friday, Oct. 7 when they take on the Sherwood Park Crusaders (7 p.m., Canmore Recreation Centre).
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