Innisfail Eagles won’t advance to Allan Cup playoffs

Birds’ outcome in senior men’s AAA national championship decided by the slimmest of margins by overtime in final game of the round robin between Clarenville and Dundas

The Innisfail Eagles' dream in 2023 of bringing home its first-ever Allan Cup national championship is over. On April 20 the Eagles' fate was decided by two other teams in the series' final round robin game and Innisfail will not advance to the playoffs. Graphic by Candice Hughes

It may not seem fair but the Innisfail Eagles’ dream of winning an Allan Cup will have to wait at least until next year.

This year’s Allan Cup championship to decide the country’s best men’s senior AAA hockey team has to date been a thrilling event between four evenly matched squads.

There were no blowouts in any of the six round robin games. Four of the games were decided by one goal. The remaining two had two-goal margins.

The Birds’ fate in the 2023 Allan Cup championship in Dundas, Ontario was ultimately decided on the outcome of the final round robin game on Thursday, April 20 between the Clarenville Ford Caribous and Dundas Real McCoys.

Innisfail had finished the round robin with one win and two close losses, and needed Clarenville to defeat Dundas in regulation on April 20 to advance to the playoffs. But if the game went into overtime Dundas would advance, win or lose.

Deep into the third period of the final round robin game it looked like Innisfail just might sneak in as Clarenville had a 4 – 3 lead over Dundas.

But the Real McCoys scored to tie the game at 4 – 4 with 3:32 remaining.

Clarenville went on to beat Dundas 5 – 4 on an overtime goal at 4:26.

Dundas gets into the semifinal game tonight with the Hamilton Steelers. Clarenville earns a bye into the Allan Cup championship game on April 22.

The Real McCoys finished second in the round robin standings behind Clarenville’s perfect 3 – 0 record as the tournament host team was awarded a point for its overtime loss to finish with four; one ahead of third place Hamilton, and Innisfail.

The Eagles and Hamilton both had three points but because of the tourney format the Steelers get to play another day in the semifinals and Innisfail is declared out of the playoffs – despite an impressive opening round robin win against Dundas and losing the next two games in heartbreaking fashion by just one goal.

Hamilton defeated Innisfail in the round robin by a margin of 6 – 5.

The Albertan attempted to contact the Eagles this morning but the team was waiting to hear about a “development” before commenting.