LACOMBE – Chance Griffith stood tall among NCHL league officials as many in the crowd at the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex applauded.
On March 22, the 24-year-old rookie goalie was just named the Vanberg Cup series Most Valuable Player.
He was the proverbial “guy” for the Innisfail Eagles during the 2025 North Central Hockey League (NCHL) playoffs who slammed the door shut on three opposing teams, especially the perennially powerful Lacombe Generals in the finals.
Best of all for Griffith his Innisfail Eagles senior AA men’s hockey team were NCHL playoff champions after defeating Lacombe four games to one in the best of seven finals.
“I don't got much words for it but it's my first ever championship win, and I worked really hard over the years, and I got a team in front of me and we just came together all as one, and we put it all out there, and won, and that's all that matters,” said Griffith, who played for the Didsbury-based junior B Mountainview Colts before becoming a member of the Innisfail Eagles.
“This team sticks together to win, keeps the energy up on the bench and just stays positive,” said Griffith. “And that's a big thing about championship teams. They come together and they win as a team.”
The Eagles went to Lacombe on March 22 leading the series three games to one, after defeating the Generals 5-1 at the Innisfail Twin Arena the night before.
Game 5 began with the Eagles storming on the ice with a quick 2-0 lead within the first five minutes of the game.
The Birds never relinquished their lead and ultimately won 7-2.
Chase Thudium, the leading NCHL playoff scorer, led the way with two goals and two assists.
Mike Marianchuk also had two goals, while singles went to Nick Bell, Quintin Lisoway and Tyler Berkholtz.
“I am so happy for the guys. They came together so well as a team. It took every guy in the room, everybody had to be a big part of this,” said Eagles’ head coach Ryan Dodd. “The guys played for each other. They believed in each other. That's really what it came down to.”
The Eagles NCHL championship victory also goes a long way to erase the lingering heartbreak the team had from its 2019 Allan Cup loss to the Lacombe Generals.
“It means a lot. I know a lot of guys were in that game in 2019 against them, and they just wanted to win so bad,” said Eagles forward Josh Gette, adding there were players on the team who were former members of the now defunct Red Deer Rustlers who wanted to best the Generals. “We have some guys who got beat by them for the last six years, and a lot of them wanted to win this game.
“We're happy we did it.”
However, what also matters for Gette is that he is a born and bred Innisfailian.
For him, bringing home the Vanberg Cup is not only for the team also for the community.
“It just feels great. We had the whole town coming behind us,” said Gette. “We're going to go to the provincials in a few weeks, and we're going to win that too. We just love it.”
And then there is also Riley Simpson. The veteran Innisfail forward is a third generation Eagles’ hockey player, following his father Dwayne and grandfather Stan.
“They are happy. Grandpa wasn't able to be here tonight, but he texted me right after and said he was having a drink to celebrate,” said Simpson. “Luckily, dad was able to make it and we’re all just as happy as can be. It’s perfect.”
And the Eagles are still not done for 2025.
The Innisfail team will be seeking a provincial senior men’s hockey title in Lethbridge from April 3 to 6 when they play in the 2025 Senior AA Men's Provincial Hockey Championships.
The Eagles will compete against the top teams from the Ranchland Hockey League (host and league champion), and league champions from the Sask-Alta Hockey League and North Peace Hockey League.
