Sunday, October 28, 2012 – Led by Nils Moser’s two goals and one assist, the Canmore Eagles extended their current Alberta Junior Hockey League winning streak to four games last night as they defeated the visiting Sherwood Park Crusaders 6-5 in an overtime shoot-out at the Canmore Recreation Centre.
The Eagles didn’t make things easy on themselves, or the 450 fans in attendance, as they led the game 5-1 early in the second period but couldn’t put the game away. The Crusaders, who were playing their third game in as many nights, refused to give up and eventually tied it up at 5-5, scoring two goals in the last three and half minutes of the third period.
After a scoreless five minutes of exciting “three-on-three” sudden death overtime, the teams went to a shootout format with the Eagles prevailing on goals by Steven Phee and Riley Point. Eagle netminder Cameron Barnes stopped all but one of the Sherwood Park overtime shooters to earn the victory and improve his record to 4-2-1.
With the win, Canmore now sits all alone in second-place in the AJHL Southern Division standings with a record of 9-4-3 and 21 points.
Zack Rassell (11th), Luke Simpson (7th) and Phee (11th) had the other goals for the Eagles during regulation play.
The Eagles will try to extend their winning streak to five games on Sunday, Oct. 28th when they host the visiting Bonnyville Pontiacs (9-5-3) at the Canmore Recreation Centre for a rare 2:30 pm afternoon start.
The Eagles have played Bonnyville twice this season, losing to the Pontiacs 4-2 at the AJHL Showcase Weekend in Spruce Grove on September 29, but rebounded to defeat the Pontiacs in Bonnyville last weekend by a 5-2 score.
The Pontiacs will be in a bad mood for Sunday’s game as they are currently riding a four-game losing streak and will be playing their third road game in two and half days. The Pontiacs lost in Brooks on Friday night by a 7-2 score, and Okotoks took a 5-1 decision on Saturday night.
NOTEBOOK: Eagle starting netminder Ty Swabb left Saturday night’s game at the 10:49 mark of the first period with an ankle injury. X-ray results came back negative so there is optimism that the injury won’t be too serious.
