After not playing a game in almost a month since winning the provincial championship on March 18 the Innisfail Eagles defeated hometown Dundas Real McCoys 2 – 0 to open the Allan Cup tournament at the JL Grightmire Market Street Arena in Dundas, Ontario.
The first game of the senior men’s AAA national championship, which was live streamed, was a fast and furious with both teams trading scoring chances but both goalies stood tall between the pipes.
Halfway through the first period Innisfail had a glorious chance to open the scoring when Dundas ran into penalty trouble and was two men short but the Eagles could not get the puck past opposing goalie Mike Mole.
After one period the game was a scoreless tie. Both teams had 16 shots on goal. Dundas drew three minor penalties in the opening frame while Innisfail was shorthanded just once.
The second period began with a fast pace and the Eagles struck. Ty Clay got the goal with assists going to Parker Smyth and Joe Vandermeer.
The Birds of Innisfail held onto to a 1 – 0 lead after two periods. The Real McCoys outshot Innisfail in the second by a slim margin of 16 – 14.
The Eagles took two minors in the second while Dundas had none.
The third period was once again played at a high tempo and both goalies managed to shut the door on the other team.
With time running out Dundas pulled Mole from the net but the Eagles capitalized and Justin Faryna scored into an empty net with Zane Jones getting an assist.
The Eagles hung on to pull off an upset 2 – 0 opening tournament victory over the hometown Dundas squad.
The final shots on goals had Innisfail directing 45 at Dundas’ Mole while Innisfail’s Matt Climie stopped all 43 shots fired his way.
The Eagles next game is Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. MST against Clarenville Ford Caribous.
Earlier on Monday the other match-up in the four-team Allan Cup tourney had Clarenville defeating the Hamilton Steelers 4 – 3.
