INNISFAIL – For the second weekend in a row the Innisfail Eagles are back on the road after winning its first game of 2025 the week before.
The Birds are in Wetaskiwin on Saturday, Jan. 11 to play the Longhorns.
After defeating the Westlock Warriors 5 – 3 on the road on Jan. 4 Innisfail climbed to second place in the nine-team North Central Hockey League; three points behind the league leading Lacombe Generals.
The Eagles still have two other teams to worry about - Wetaskiwin and the Stony Plain Eagles. The latter two squads are just one point behind Innisfail.
The Birds have played 13 games so far and have just three games remaining in the regular season. Lacombe is three points ahead of Innisfail and has a game in hand over the Eagles with four games remaining.
Innisfail needs a big win on Jan. 11 against Wetaskiwin, along with a Lacombe loss against the Morinville Kings, to have any chance of winning the regular season title.
It must be said, however, Lacombe is going into the weekend with a regular season record of 11 wins and just one loss. Morinville’s current record is the exact opposite – one win and 11 losses.
As for the Eagles’ game on Jan. 4 the Birds’ Riley Simpson, the game’s first star, scored a goal and an assist to lead his squad.
Innisfail led 2 – 1 after 20 minutes on goals by Ty Clay and Brandon Kalinowski.
However, Westlock turned matters around in the second period with two quick goals to take a brief 3 – 2 lead.
But Westlock’s go ahead goal woke up the Birds, and just over two minutes later the Eagles’ Chance Longjohn tied the game with Simpson assisting.
The game remained tied 3 – 3 after 40 minutes.
In the final frame Innisfail’s Simpson scored with just 3:58 left to give the Eagles a 4 – 3 lead.
With just 1:19 left Mike Marianchuk sealed the game with an unassisted empty goal, and the Birds won the game 5 – 3.
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.
