The Innisfail Eagles are ready to soar to celebrate an even seven decades on town ice.
The 2016-17 Chinook Hockey League season hasn't yet started but the Birds were on the ice in Red Deer over the Labour Day weekend for their first pre-season practice.
“We've got a lot of returning veterans from our team last year, which we're quite excited about,” said Ryan Dodd, the Eagles new general manager. “As everybody knows we were right down to the wire with a game seven overtime and ultimately we lost to the team that won the Allan Cup.”
Dodd said returning veterans will add a strong presence for the team on the ice, along with a couple of new faces this year.
“We've been fortunate enough to add on some local talent this season. Andy Willigar is going to be returning to Innisfail to play hockey, which is phenomenal,” he said of the Innisfail native.
The senior AAA men's hockey team is celebrating its 70th season. The Eagles were formed on Sept. 1, 1947.
“A hockey team doesn't run for 70 years because of one person. A hockey team runs for 70 years because an organization was built,” said Dodd, noting the strong local support for the team over the years. “That town support has definitely helped us survive for the last 70 years.”
Dodd shared some thoughts on the new team dressing room, which is expected to be completed by the end of the 2016-17 season.
“It's a great asset to this team and not only to the team but the community,” he said. “It's a place where our players are going to be able to hang their hat and call their home.
“It's something that we've really been missing in this organization.”
With the pre-season underway it will include practices in Red Deer, Penhold and Innisfail, said Dodd, before the team plays its annual pre-season SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) tournament in Calgary on Sept. 18 and hosts the Chinook Hockey League pre-season showcase in Innisfail Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. The regular season gets underway in October with the first home game scheduled for Oct. 21 at 8:30 p.m. against the Stony Plain Eagles.
“(Practices) takes us to the SAIT pre-season tournament in Calgary and that will consist of four teams,” said Dodd.
“We'll have more practices in Innisfail on September 21 and 28 leading into our pre-season tournament where we'll have five teams participating this year,” he added, noting Innisfail kicks off the tournament on Sept. 30 with a game against Fort Saskatchewan.
All five teams in the Chinook Hockey League will take part in the annual event, including the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs, newly named Lacombe Generals (formerly Bentley), Stony Plain Eagles and league newcomer from Saskatchewan, Rosetown Red Wings.
With returning veterans and an A-list coaching staff that includes Brian Sutter and Kevin Smyth, the Eagles are anticipating another memorable season.
“One of the biggest keys is having Brian Sutter return to the squad this season along with his coaching staff,” said Dodd. “Things are looking better and better all the time.”
Ryan Dodd, general manager
"A hockey team doesn't run for 70 years because of one person. A hockey team runs for 70 years because an organization was built."
