Shorthanded Eagles gain weekend split

Not much was expected over the weekend from the Canmore Eagles.

A depleted line-up meant getting anything against a pair of Alberta Junior Hockey League title rivals looked dubious at best, but a gritty Friday (Dec. 5) performance keeps Canmore within touching distance of first place approaching the mid-point of the season.

Canmore defeated the South-leading Camrose Kodiaks 5-2 on Friday at the Canmore Recreation Centre but found it tough going on the road falling 7-3 to the Calgary Canucks on Saturday.

Canmore is without leading scorer Cohen Daoust (15G-14A) the remainder of this season after he earned promotion to the WHL Calgary Hitmen following a three-game trial at the end of November.

In addition to dealing with the loss of Daoust, the team was without further offensive threats Wil Lutic and Hudson Landmark, both on Canada West duty at the Junior A World Challenge in Trois-Rivieres, Que., through Dec. 14. Then midweek, defenceman Liam Magnuson announced his departure from the team to join the Vernon Vipers of the outlaw BCHL.

That left the cupboard bare as Old Mother Hubbard’s when it came to picking a game-day roster. The team called up 16-year-old Mason Moran (Canadian International Hockey Academy U18 Prep) to get to 18 skaters.

Moran is the son of Brad Moran, who coached the Calgary Canucks for seven seasons, leading the team to back-to-back AJHL titles and a national championship last spring, before moving on to be an assistant coach with the Hitmen this season.

The young forward, who showed plenty of potential in training camp and played both exhibition games, made an immediate impression during his regular-season debut Friday, scoring his first junior A goal on his first shot on his first shift in a 5-2 victory over the Camrose Kodiaks.

An indefinite suspension to Aiden Tkachuk, for a major penalty in the third period of Friday’s contest [more on that later], meant the Eagles needed to add a second affiliate player on Saturday and gave Nathan Crellin (Calgary Flames U18) his Eagles debut. The 6-foot-3 forward has also played three games with the WHL Wenatchee Wild and three games with the AJHL Canucks this season.

Expecting a second extraordinary performance – especially on back-to-back nights – was maybe a tall order. Calgary, playing at home and knowing a victory would elevate them into first place in the South Division, used a western-style, run-and-gun offence to skate off with a 7-4 victory.

Heading into Sunday’s action, Canmore (12-11-1-0) remains in fourth place in the South Division, three points back of division-leading Calgary (14-10-0-0). Calgary is at second-place Camrose (13-11-1-0) on Sunday afternoon. Drumheller (11-10-10-4) holds third place heading into a Sunday home matinee against the Drayton Valley Thunder (8-13-2-0).

The Eagles will take the split knowing that four of their next five games before the annual Christmas break come at home. Next up, Canmore hosts Drayton Valley on Friday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m. at the Canmore Recreation Centre. The Eagles then take on the Devon Xtreme on Saturday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m. at the St. Albert Performance Centre.

Canmore stayed within striking distance of top spot in the South Division with a gutsy display before 905 appreciative fans inside the Canmore Recreation Centre.

Scheiwiller was instrumental in keeping his team in position to win this game with a 42-save performance. At the other end, goals came from five different players with Reid Larsen finishing with three points (1G-2A).

The game was tied 1-1 after the first period. Camrose’s Junshi Hideshima (9) opened the scoring at 11:43 with Moran replying for Canmore at 13:34. Moran began his first junior A shift when off an offensive zone face-off stole the puck off a Camrose defender in front of the Kodiaks’ goal and placed an in-tight, top shelf shot that will certainly be in consideration for the AJHL goal of the week.

Camrose would take its second lead of the game at 1:47 of the second period when Liam Payne (11) tapped in a cross-crease pass off a 2-on-1 with Bowen Grycan.

Reid Larsen (5) tied the game on the power play, with his point shot sailing past a screened Camrose goaltender, Carter Capton, at 15:44.

The Eagles look to have taken the lead in the final 90 seconds of the period on another point shot, this one by Landon Scott, but after a lengthy discussion amongst the on-ice officials it was ruled out due to inadvertent contact on the goaltender in the lead-up to the goal.

It was all Eagles in the third period when it came to goals as the Kodiaks outshot the home team 18-7 in the period but couldn’t beat Scheiwiller. Bryson Insinger (8) scored the game winner at 3:02, catching a pass from Aiden Tkachuk while alone in the high slot, with a quick release catching Capton unable to cover his left post.

Shortly after the goal, the Eagles were forced to kill off a match penalty assessed Tkachuk for an apparent slew-foot on Kodiaks’ defenceman Keegan Beagle, who left the ice with what looked like a left knee injury. The Kodiaks’ captain took an awkward fall along the boards as he came across to check the Eagles forward in the defensive zone. The call came after another lengthy discussion among the game officials.

A second power-play goal was also a first AJHL goal for Jonathan Gomez, coming in his 19th game, at 12:40.

Tavynn Hamilton (3) would score an empty net goal at 18:58 to put the game out of reach.

Camrose outshot Canmore 44-28.

On the power play, Camrose went 0-for-3 while Canmore was 2-6. There were 113 penalty minutes, although the number was inflated on both sides by numerous misconducts including two to Eagles John Szabo, both coming at different points of the third period.

Canmore’s line-up on Saturday night featured 13 rookies – including two affiliate players – against a veteran Calgary team featuring six skaters with major junior experience.

Leading that Calgary charge was Harper LoLacher, a veteran with 97 WHL games, and one of only two players to reach 20 goals in the AJHL so far this season. The Pilot Butte, Sask., native improved to 22 goals and 33 points with two goals and one assist.

Insinger (9) gave the Eagles the early lead, cashing in on the power play at 2:47 of the first period. He now has goals in three consecutive games.

The Canucks replied with the next seven goals including five in the first period: LoLacher (21), at 5:46, Logan Murray (1), at 7:08, Josh Kelly (2), at 12:31, Spencer Morrow (2), at 14:24, and Tate Hanson (1), at 19:29. The second and third goals came on the power play.

Scheiwiller faced 15 shots in the first period and would turn the goaltending duties over to Hudson Sedo at the start of the second period.

In the second period, LoLacher (22) scored his second of the game at 43 seconds, followed by Antonio Bevacqua (1) at 11:56, becoming the third Canuck to get their first goal of the season.

The final two goals of the game belonged to Eagles’ rookie Easton Milne (6-7), at 15:35 of the second period and 14:45 of the third period.

Cole Wadsworth assisted on both Milne goals and with two assists in each of his last three games has six points over five games since returning to the Eagles’ line-up.

LoLacher had a hat trick opportunity with a penalty shot late in the period but tried to deke his way around Hudson and found no space to get off a backhand shot and took the puck past the goal.

Shots on goals were 33-33 with Noah Nelson in goal for the Canucks.

On the power play, Canmore went 1-for-3 and Calgary was 2-for-2.

OVERTIME: The AJHL announced Jan 19-21, 2026 as the dates for the 19th annual AJHL Showcase with games in Red Deer and Edmonton. The Showcase is partnering with the WHL, Red Deer Rebels and Edmonton Oil Kings. The Eagles will take on the Bonnyville Pontiacs on Monday, Jan. 19, 7 p.m. at the Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer. … Can’t get to a game in person, all AJHL games can be viewed with a flohockey.tv subscription. … The Canmore Eagles are always in need of more volunteers to help with game day experiences, whether you are new to the game or an avid hockey supporter, email info@canmoreeagles.com for more information on opportunities and game-day perks that come with being part of the Game Day Crew.