INNISFAIL – The Birds of Innisfail are still in the thick of a four-way battle for first place in their inaugural season in the North Central Hockey League.
On Dec. 21 the Innisfail Eagles defeated the Devon Barons 4-2 in a close game on the road at Devon’s Dale Fisher Arena.
It was the Eagles last game before the Christmas holiday season break.
With the win Innisfail sits in third place with 17 points after 12 games in the nine-team senior men's AA league; one behind second place Wetaskiwin Longhorns and three behind front-runner Lacombe Generals.
Both Wetaskiwin and Lacombe have a game in hand over the Eagles with 11 games played.
The Stony Plain Eagles are just one point back of Innisfail with 16 points after 12 games.
The Birds’ game on Dec. 21 was scoreless until the Barons’ Ryan Berry scored at 15:52 of the second period.
The Eagles’ Ty Clay evened the game up with his eighth goal of the season with just 1:40 remaining in the period, and the game was tied 1-1 after 40 minutes of play.
Clay’s marker provided inspiration to Innisfail as Riley Simpson gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead with his second marker of the season early in the third period.
But the Barons came back to tie the score at 15:12 on a goal from Cody Issler.
However, the Birds’ Justin Moltzahn made it 3-2 for Innisfail with just 4:27 left to play.
Mike Marianchuk then scored on the Barons’ empty net with 23 seconds left in regulation to seal the game for the Eagles, and the visiting team took home at 4-2 win.
Offensively, the game was relatively even between the two teams. The Eagles out-shot the Barons 44-39.
Innisfail goal Wade Waters earned the victory for his team.
The Eagles will continue to be on the road for the first two weekends in January.
The Birds next home game at the Innisfail Twin Arena is scheduled for Jan. 18 against the Westlock Warriors.
Puck drop at the Innisfail Twin Arena is at 8 p.m.
