Wednesday, November 7, 2012 – After wrapping up the first 20 games of their 2012-2013 Alberta Junior Hockey League season with a heart-breaking 2-1 road loss to the Okotoks Oilers last night, the Canmore Eagles will now enjoy a well deserved week off before facing their next opponent.
The scheduling break couldn’t come at a better time for the Eagles as it will allow the injury-riddled club sufficient time to heal-up and prepare for the next 20-game segment of the 60-game AJHL regular season schedule.
The Eagle’s do not play their next game until Tuesday, November 13 when they will face the Calgary Canucks at the Canmore Recreation Centre.
“When we went to the scheduling meetings last spring, I really tried my best to find us a week off at this point in the schedule,” said Eagle’s head coach and general manager Andrew Milne, whose team sports a respectable 9-7-4 record after 20 games. “With all the injuries that we’ve had thus far, this little break will allow us some time to get healthy and re-charge for the next part of the schedule leading up to the Christmas break.”
With a week’s rest before their next game, Milne expects that both his leading scorer Zack Rassell and goaltender Ty Swabb will be back in his lineup when play resumes next week. The two highly-touted 20-year olds have been out of the lineup since Oct. 27 and have missed the team’s last four games. Rookie defenceman Ashton Mcleod, out since Oct. 16 with an upper body injury, is also expected to be back in uniform next week.
“The club has been missing some key players for the past couple of weeks but the rest of guys have responded very well to the challenge,” said Milne. “Our rookies have seen a lot of ice-time during this time and this experience will certainly help us in the long run. We look forward to icing a full lineup when we play the Canucks next Tuesday.”
In their first 20 games this season, the Eagles have been rock solid on home ice securing 12 out of a possible 16 points. Canmore has also earned 10 points on the road with four victories and two overtime losses. After 20 games last season, the Eagles had just three victories overall and were pointless on the road.
“After a third of the season, I’m fairly pleased with the club’s progress to date,” said Milne. “We’ve had some tough luck in a few games and should have a few more points in the standings, but regardless, we’re right in the mix of things and are just two points out of second-place in the Southern Division standings.
“We’ve beaten some very good teams to date and we’re playing well both at home and on the road. I’m encouraged with the direction that we are going. I think we have some good team chemistry and we’re starting to play with confidence. If we get everybody back healthy and rolling, I look forward to seeing how we’ll make out over the next 20 games.”
NOTEBOOK: With a little luck, coach Milne might also get two other injured Eagle players back in his lineup before the Christmas break. Simon Philp, a 6’2 180 lb. forward who had 23 points in 47 games last season, is currently recovering from hip surgery and is making steady progress. Rookie Alex Bechtold, who suffered a serious ankle fracture on his first shift in his first AJHL game back on Sept. 8, has also had a speedy recovery and is expected to resume skating shortly. . . Don’t forget the Eagle’s BIG fund-raising “TOWN PARTY” event at the Radisson Hotel this Friday night, November 9. Dance the night away as two bands (The Electric Squirrels and Retrobution) will provide live entertainment while Beesley will be the Master of Ceremonies. The evening will also feature free food and snacks, door prizes and a fantastic selection of silent auction items. Tickets are just $25 and are available at Can-Bow Motors, Lockwood Autobody, Printcraft and the Heart Mountain store.
