INNISFAIL - The Innisfail Eagles will play a three-on-three intersquad game Saturday at the Innisfail Twin Arena instead of a homeopener after the team it was to play unexpectedly folded.
The Eagles hockey team has moved from its longstanding stint as a AAA squad in the fading two-team Chinook Hockey League to the AA level in the now nine -team North Central Hockey League (NCHL).
Innisfail was set to play its homeopener Sept. 28 against the Red Deer Rustlers after playing an exhibition game against Wetaskiwin Sept. 21.
On Sept. 17, the NCHL said the Red Deer Rustlers “dropped a bomb” when it informed the league executive of its unexpected plans to fold prior to the season's opener in two weeks.
While the league said “there had been some rumblings that the Rustlers had some problems,” there was no indication at the league's fall meeting back on Sept. 8.
“The main reasons given for their sudden demise were due to financial support and the loss of their core players,” the NCHL said in a statement, adding the team plans to apply to re-enter the league next season.
Other than dropping the Rustler's games, the league said there will be no changes to the schedule.
Left in the league are Bonnyville, Camrose, Devon, Innisfail, Lacombe, Morinville, Stony Plain, Westlock and Wetaskiwin.
The teams will now play a 16-game regular season with the top 8 teams qualifying for the playoffs.
The Innisfail Eagles' homeopener is now scheduled for Oct. 5 against Wetaskiwin.
