It wasn't pretty but the Innisfail Eagles defeated the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs 5-4 Friday night (Feb. 28) to win the best of seven Chinook Hockey League semi-final series four games to one.
The Birds now advance to the finals against the reigning league and Allan Cup champion Bentley Generals. That series is scheduled to begin next weekend.
The Eagles came out flying hard in the game with Travis Dunstall opening the scoring just a minute and seven seconds in. But for the rest of the period the Birds were spinning their wheels. Not only were they outplayed by the Chiefs, who were forced to engage in desperation hockey being down three games to one in the series, but the Birds were also victims of some bad officiating.
The Chiefs pressed hard throughout the period, ultimately outshooting the Eagles 17-8, with Brett Holmberg evening up the game at 14:50 and Landon Jones putting the visitors ahead 2-1 at 12:44 on a power play marker.
And then at 7:38, the Chiefs' Brian Woolger got credit for a goal when it was obvious to most of the more than 600 fans in the building that the whistle had blown before the puck went into the net. It was a big break for the Chiefs. They led 3-1 after 20 minutes.
But the Eagles shook off their misfortune during the intermission and came into the second period with a determined mission to turn the game around. Michael Kneeland scored a minute in, and 13 seconds later Tyler Helfrich tied the game.
The Birds were back on track and ended the second frame by outshooting the Chiefs 13-5.
For the third period in a row the Eagles came out of the gate smoking. Wyatt Hamilton scored 43 seconds in to give the Birds a 4-3 lead. Adam Mcpherson added another at 15:27.
With just over two minutes remaining in the game the Chiefs pulled goalie Jim Watt for the extra man advantage and Richard Kelly scored to make it 5-4. But the Eagles held on the rest of the way to take the game and claim the series.
Despite being badly outshot in the first period the Eagles ultimately had a 36-35 edge for the game. Jeffrey Macphee, who had three assists, was chosen the Birds' star of the game. Kneeland had a goal and two assists.
The Eagles now face Bentley in the finals. The Generals secured their spot to defend their league championship title with a four game sweep of the Stony Plain Eagles.
