SEI SPO PRESS
Canmore Eagles netminder Andrei Proctor-Ramirez came through with an impressive bounce-back performance on Friday (Jan. 20).
After being pulled in his previous two Alberta Junior Hockey League starts, the 20-year-old all-star goaltender made 33 saves as Canmore defeated the Olds Grizzlys 5-0 at the Canmore Recreation Centre.
Proctor-Ramirez was the starter four of the five games coming out of the holiday break, surrendering only four goals over the first two games but then was pulled midway through each of his last two games. Then on Friday, he again found the form that earned him South Division all-star accolades at the end of the 2021-22 season blanking a Grizzlys team, mired in eighth place in the South, seemingly playing without any expectations on them.
The shutout was the first of the season for Proctor-Ramirez, who had two blank sheets last season.
Goals for Canmore, who fired 36 shots at Olds goaltender Marcus Cumberworth, came from Owen Jones (14), Tyler Loughman (7) and Hunter Burgeson (7) in the first period, Vincent Scott (21) in the second period, and Reed Jacobson (9) in the third period.
On the power play, Canmore was 1-for-7 while Olds was 0-for-5.
From SO to KO
After such a fine performance on Friday, Proctor-Ramirez was back between the pipes on Saturday (Jan. 21) as the league-leading Brooks Bandits made a stop in Canmore.
The Bandits were coming off only their fourth regulation time loss in 45 games the previous night, 6-3 to the Blackfalds Bulldogs. The visitors were surely looking to get out to a strong start against the Eagles and did exactly that scoring three goals on 21 shots in the opening period.
Unfortunately, Proctor-Ramirez’s night ended just 16:57 into the game when a heavy crash in the crease left the Paradise Hills, Sask. native unable to continue in this game. He would suffer a stiff neck and sore back with further evaluation expected over the coming days.
Matthew Malin would step back between the pipes for the remainder of the game and gave up two goals on 28 shots as the Bandits would add goals in each of the second and third periods.
Canmore’s lone goal came from Riley Dekowny (16) in the second period.
For Brooks, Elliot Dutil scored twice in the first period. Also scoring were Aiden Fink, Davide Patella and Caelan Fitzpatrick.
Brooks outshot Canmore 49-32 with Ethan Barwick in goal for the Bandits.
On the power play, Canmore was 1-for-7 and Brooks was 0-for-3.
Friday’s win ended a four-game losing streak for the Eagles, who finished up a five-game homestand on Saturday.
Canmore called up affiliate player Luc Trevors from Okotoks Oilers U18AAA for Friday’s game, giving him a junior A debut on his 17th birthday.
Canmore (18-23-2-2) is in a three-team battle for the fifth in the South, currently holding onto sixth place with 40 points, two points back of the Camrose Kodiaks (20-23-2-0) and two points ahead of the Calgary Canucks (15-21-6-2). Olds (13-28-3-0) is nine points back of the final playoff spot with 16 games remaining.
Canmore heads to Calgary on Tuesday (Jan. 24), 7 p.m. at the Max Bell Centre. The Eagles and Canucks have split the first four meetings between the teams this season, with the only other clash in Calgary resulting in a 4-3 Canucks victory.