Special Eagles stay undefeated at Centennial Cup

Special teams have been nothing short of outstanding for the Canmore Eagles through their first two games of the Centennial Cup — and so has their captain, John Szabo.

Szabo has game-winning goals in back-to-back games after giving Canmore a 3-2 victory over the Thunder Bay North Stars, playing their opening Canadian Junior A Hockey League championship tournament game.

The Alberta Junior Hockey League champion Eagles scored two goals on the power-play and one shorthanded in rallying from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Superior International Hockey League champion in Summerside, P.E.I., on Friday (May 9).

Canmore was sorely tested through the opening half of this game as the SIJHL representative – rarely considered a Canadian championship contender – proved themselves worthy of being in this tournament.

“Maybe the past history of that group [SIJHL] made (the players) think it would be an easy one, and it certainly was not,” said Eagles GM/Head Coach Andrew Milne. “… I thought we didn’t play well in the first period – not at all. Then, we responded with a much better second and third (periods).”

Thunder Bay would get the opening goal when Connor Larrett intercepted a clearing pass, working it towards the goal with his backhand attempt blocked right to Evan Simeoni who quickly rifled it high stick side on Canmore goaltender Alex Scheiwiller and into the goal 6:57 into the contest.

The North Stars doubled their lead at 6:26 of the second period when Acoyen Fehr deftly bunted a floating puck out of the air and over Scheiwiller, dropping it into the net in a play that may well stand as the goal of the tournament — though Eagles fans might argue Szabo’s game‑winners belong in that conversation.

Canmore finally broke through with a shorthanded goal at 11:28 — just the second time the team has managed the feat in 70 games this season. Hudson Landmark picked off a cross‑ice pass inside the Eagles’ blue line and tore away with Szabo on a two‑on‑one. A quick series of give‑and‑go passes left Landmark staring at an open net, and he slid the puck inside the right post.

The Eagles would tie the game on their first power-play opportunity when Cohen Daoust, who was named Canmore’s player of the game, wristed a shot from the left point into the top far side of the North Stars’ goal with 35 seconds left in the middle frame.

Thunder Bay’s resolve would be tested in the third period, the effects of a determined Canmore team with its physical, defensive play and up-tempo attacks.

“Everyone’s been stepping up in key parts of the game,” said defenceman Reid Larson, who has become the lynchpin on the blue line. “Just having a lot of guys that you can count on is kind of like having a superpower in this Centennial Cup.”

While Scheiwiller rightly draws most of the accolades, the defensive corps of Larson, Haruki Morikawa, Conor Watson, Quinn Keeler and Evan Markel has become the glue binding the back end to the attack.

“The defencemen were great tonight,” noted Milne. “We relied a lot on them.”

That foundation allows the offence to deliver decisive blows.

Szabo buried the game‑winner at 16:17 of the third period, ripping a shot home off a feed from Landmark. The Eagles’ captain wired it from the right point into the top‑left corner for the team’s second power‑play marker of the night.

Canmore’s defenders then held firm through the final minutes as Thunder Bay poured on the pressure in search of an equalizer that never came. Larson credits it to a group that refuses to splinter: “I’ve been on a lot of junior teams … this is the closest group I’ve played with. We all go to bat for each other. We’re battling and sticking up for one another. Everyone fits. No one is left out. We’re brothers.”

Canmore outshot Thunder Bay 33-30 with the advantage coming in the third period when the Eagles outchanced the North Stars 9-4. On the power play, Canmore finished 2-for-3 while Thunder Bay was 0-for-3.

Szabo and Landmark each finished with one goal and one assist. The Eagles’ captain has four points (two goals and two assists) through two games. While Scheiwiller is not in the running for the CJHL top goaltender award – and four of the goaltenders in this competition are shortlisted for the award – the AJHL’s top goaltender and league playoff MVP continues to shine brightly with a 1.98 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.

The Eagles now have two wins and five points to top Pool A: three points for the regulation-time victory and two points for a 3-2 overtime win over the Rockland Nationals on Thursday.

Canmore heads into a day off knowing that when they return to action on Sunday, May 10, 4:30 p.m. MT against the host Summerside Western Capitals they will not be chasing any of the five teams in their pool.  The players are looking forward to a well-earned rest day.

“It’s awesome, we were touring around the town a couple of days ago [and] it was a little windy and rainy when we got here, but when we were out walking around near the ocean (Thursday evening) it’s a beautiful town,” said Larson. “And at the rink, it’s all super professional. Hockey Canada has done a wonderful job putting this event on. You definitely feel taken care of, so it’s easy to get the job done on the ice.”

The other four teams in Pool A return to action on Saturday with the Niverville Nighthawks (two points) taking on Thunder Bay (0 points), 9 a.m. MT, and host Summerside (1 point) up against the Rockland Nationals (1 point), 4:30 p.m. MT.

A pair of Pool B games were also contested on Day 2:

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League champion Bombers dominated the shot battle but couldn’t get a puck past Mathis Lacroix-Goulet as he secured victory for the Quebec Junior Hockey League champion.

Flin Flon outshot CF de Longueuil 26-12 with Samuel Beaulieu scoring the only goal of the game at 13:39 of the second period. The goal came on the power play, which saw CF de Longueuil go 1-for-5 while Flin Flon went 0-for-6.

The game featured a matchup between two netminders shortlisted for the CJHL top goaltender award with Charlie Tritt in goal for Flin Flon.

In Thursday’s late game, the Cubs came in smarting after a lopsided loss in their Centennial Cup opener and it was the Bearcats who had to absorb their response.

Lincoln Moore scored two goals for Greater Sudbury as the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League champion clawed its way to a victory over the Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MHL) champion, making its tournament debut.

Iain Wintle posted a fine bounce-back performance for the Cubs, who were pummeled 8-3 by the Ontario Junior Hockey League Toronto Patriots on Thursday with the netminder giving up five of those goals over the opening 30 minutes.

Great Sudbury outshot Truro 30-24 with Louca Connolly was in the net for the Bearcats.

Much like the previous game in Pool B, it was a parade to the penalty box, with both teams earning six power plays. Moore’s second goal stood as the lone power-play marker of the night.

The Pool B standings show the Cubs (1-1) along with CF de Longueuil (1-0) and Toronto (1-0) all sitting on three points, while Flin Flon (0-1) and Truro (0-1) trail the pack.

(All times MT)

Saturday, May 9: Thunder Bay vs Niverville, 9 a.m.; Flin Flon vs Toronto, 1 p.m.; Summerside vs Rockland, 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 10: Truro vs CF de Longueuil, 1 p.m.; Summerside vs Canmore, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, May 11: Flin Flon vs Greater Sudbury, 9 a.m.; Rockland vs Thunder Bay, 1 p.m.; Toronto vs Truro, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 12: Greater Sudbury vs CF de Longueuil, 9 a.m.; Niverville vs Canmore, 1 p.m.; Thunder Bay vs Summerside, 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 13: CF de Longueuil vs Toronto, 9 a.m.; Rockland vs Niverville, 1 p.m.; Truro vs Flin Flon, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, May 15: Quarter-final No. 1, 1 p.m.; Quarter-final No. 2, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 16: Semifinal No. 1, 1 p.m.; Semifinal No. 2, 4:30 p.m.

Sunday: May 17: Championship Game, 4 p.m. (available on TSN+)

May 7: Greater Sudbury 3 Toronto 8; Rockland 2 Canmore 3 (OT); Niverville 5 Summerside 4 (OT)

May 8: Flin Flon 0 CF de Longueuil 1; Canmore 3 Thunder Bay 2; Greater Sudbury 4 Truro 1.

OVERTIME: The Canmore Eagles Go Fund Me page, is closing in on its goal of $35,000 to cover expenses and give the players an experience they will forever cherish. The fund currently is at more than $32,000. For more information go to gofundme.com/f/canmore-eagles-at-the-centennial-cup-in-prince-edward-island. … All games are being streamed by pay-per-view on HNLive.ca, with the championship game also available on TSN+. … Patrinos Steak House & Pub is hosting all-ages watch parties throughout the Centennial Cup to bring Canmore Eagles’ fans together to cheer on and celebrate the team.