INNISFAIL – It’s playoff time and the Innisfail Eagles are ready to battle.
The Birds split their last two games of the regular season with a 6-3 victory at home Friday night (Feb. 2) against the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs, and dropped a close 2-1 decision on the road to the Lacombe Generals on Sunday.
"We played well tonight. We led them a few times and they had their opportunities and scored on a couple of them, but overall it was a good effort," said Eagles forward Greg Moore Friday, who netted the Birds’ third goal on Friday.
Innisfail opened the scoring Friday night with a goal from Mike Winther halfway through the first period. The game was tied at one after the first frame, but the Birds took a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes with goals from Pete Vandermeer, Greg Moore and Ty Clay.
"We didn't have the first period we wanted to,” said Clay, noting an improvement in the second and third periods. "This close to playoffs you want to be playing a bit better and be at the top of your game right now," said Clay, noting his team’s strong effort Friday and anticipated effort Sunday.
"It'll be good to (end the regular season) against Lacombe. It'll be a good test for us and get us ready going into the playoffs," he added.
Other goals Friday came from Matt Houston and Geoff Rollins. The Eagles outshot the Chiefs 61 – 34.
In Sunday’s 2-1 loss Eagles forward Geoff Rollins netted the Birds’ only goal. Innisfail came close to tying the game at two with just 11 seconds remaining in the third period, but the goal was waved off.
The Birds will face their namesake rival, the Stony Plain Eagles, in the first round of the Allan Cup Hockey West league playoffs, which will begin in mid-February.
"We're feeling good going into the playoffs and we feel we have a good chance," said Clay.
Assistant coach Ryan Dodd said the Eagles are prepared for a battle.
"It's going to be a hard-nosed, tough series and it's going to be fast," said Dodd. A lot of the games (with Stony Plain this season) have been really close.”
Dodd said with a roster of 28 players and 10 affiliate players, the team will use the same lineup come playoff time, but may call upon affiliate players if and when needed.
"It's a working man's league. We're going to go with the guys who are playing and feeling good and any chance we get we'll try to add to it," he said, noting their focus on Sunday’s game in Lacombe and the playoff series that lies ahead.
"We'll be prepared, we'll be ready and we're going to look for a hard-nosed battle."
Ryan Dodd, general manager
"We'll be prepared, we'll be ready and we're going to look for a hard-nosed battle."
