PHOTO – Canmore Eagle defenceman Griffin Mumby scored his 4th goal of the season to tie the game at 2-2 in the second period, but the Eagles went down to defeat 5-2 to the visiting Bonnyville Pontiacs. – Julie Wilson Photo
The Bonnyville Pontiacs erupted for three unanswered third-period goals to break open a tight game and went on to register a 5-2 Alberta Junior Hockey League victory over the Canmore Eagles at the Canmore Recreation Centre on Saturday night.
It was the Eagles third loss in their last four games and drops Canmore's overall record to a disappointing 8-9. With 16 points in the standings, the Eagles now find themselves in seventh-place in the highly competitive AJHL Southern Division standings, just six points ahead of the last-place Calgary Mustangs. Canmore will play the Mustangs in Calgary on Monday night (Oct. 27).
As has been the case for the past four games, the Eagles offence has gone missing in action as they have scored just six goals in that time span.
“We are certainly a little snake bitten right now,” said Eagles Head Coach and General Manager Andrew Milne. “We didn’t play that poorly, we just can’t seem to put the puck in the net right now. We created some quality scoring opportunities, hit the post a couple times, and their goaltender (Joey Desrosiers) played a solid game. It’s a frustrating time for both the coaches and the players right now. It’s gotten to a point where the players are gripping their sticks a little too tight and they’re not making the plays that would naturally come to them. We just need to keep working hard and hopefully the hockey gods will smile on us again.”
Ryley Rising, with his 10th, and Griffin Mumby (4th) had the Eagle goals. Canmore was outshot 44-32 on the night.
The game was marred by a second period injury to Eagle rookie netminder Levi Nelson who was involved in a goal mouth collision with 6’6, 200 lb Eagle defenceman Kevin Wolf. After a 20-minute delay, Nelson was taken off the ice on a stretcher after being attended to by Eagle trainer Dino Senn and Eagle Doctor Mike Quinlan. Initial reports indicate that Nelson’s right ankle is not broken, just sprained, and that he will be OK.
Fellow Eagle netminder Ryan Ferguson, who is nursing his own undisclosed injury, was forced into action and finished the game for Canmore.