INNISFAIL – It was a historic win.
The Innisfail Eagles won a thrilling 5-4 overtime decision Saturday night, March 23, on the road against the Stony Plain Eagles to earn a 4-2 best-of-seven provincial semifinal series.
For the first time in their 71-year history, the Birds of Innisfail are advancing to the Allan Cup, Canada’s Senior AAA National Championship series.
“It’s a pretty cool feeling, just to be a part of it. Everyone is pretty excited,” said Chad Robinson, an Eagles forward. “This is my first time and the first time for the Innisfail Eagles organization to go to the Allan Cup, so it’ll be pretty special.”
The Allan Cup will be held in Lacombe from April 8 to 13, with the championship game televised by TSN.
Six teams from across Canada, representing four regions, Pacific (Alberta), West (Saskatchewan and Manitoba), Ontario and Atlantic (Newfoundland and Labrador), will compete for the 110-year-old Allan Cup.
This year's teams include the Innisfail Eagles (Alberta), Rosetown Red Wings (Saskatchewan), South East Prairie Thunder (Manitoba), Stoney Creek Generals (Ontario) - the 2018 Allan Cup champions, the Haut-Madawaska Panthers (New Brunswick) and the host team, the Lacombe Generals.
Earning their way to the Allan Cup was not an easy task.
The Stony Plain Eagles fought hard and kept pace with Innisfail throughout the seven-game series, tying it 1-1 and 2-2 before Innisfail won the series with victories in games 5 and 6.
Innisfail won Game 5 last Friday night, March 22, in Innisfail by a score of 5 - 2.
In Game 6 in Stony Plain on Saturday, March 23, Innisfail took a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes with two goals from forward Chad Robinson.
The second frame saw a flurry of markers from both teams with Stony Plain taking a 4-3 lead, but late in the period Robinson once again tied the game at four with his third of the night, earning him a playoff hat trick.
With no scoring in the final period the game went to overtime.
Innisfail’s Blair Mulder shot the overtime winner from the point, which was tipped in by Robinson in front of the net, giving him his fourth goal of the game.
Tyler Beechey also scored for Innisfail.
“There was no way we were going to lose that game,” said Mulder. “It was a huge win, not only for the guys in the room but for the whole organization.
“Our next goal is the Allan Cup.”
Ryan Dodd, the Eagles general manager and assistant coach, said the win and ticket to the Allan Cup was important for the organization and players as a special way to give back to the town of Innisfail.
“You knew going into the game there was confidence and a real hunger to go out and get the series done,” said Dodd. “A lot of guys talked about not only how much it was going to mean to them and the organization, but to the town of Innisfail.
“They weren’t just playing for themselves and the team, they wanted to get the town of Innisfail to the Allan Cup,” he added.
Dodd noted several players, as well as trainer Lorne Fraser, assistant coach Kevin Smyth and head coach Brian Sutter all have Allan Cup experience.
“We have lots of people around us that have been there and know what it takes to win,” said Dodd, adding all three of Innisfail’s goaltenders, Allen York, Danyon Lorencz and Kraymer Barnstable, had an outstanding season and will play a key role in the national championship series.
The Innisfail Eagles will now play a two-game total points mini-series against the Allan Cup hosts, the Lacombe Generals, to determine the senior AAA provincial champion. Game dates and times are to be announced.
The Allan Cup schedule has been finalized with Innisfail’s first game of the 2019 Allan Cup against familiar (ACHW) league rival, the Rosetown Red Wings, on April 8 at 4 p.m.
For game times and more information visit www.allancup.ca
