The Eagles headed to the home of the Rams in Rocky Mountain House on Saturday for Game 2 of the exhibition series. The Rams play out of the icy cold twin arena in Rocky. On Saturday night with the wind and snow it was just about warmer outside than it was inside the newer part of the twin arena.
Kent Wing opened up the scoring for the Eagles at 16:53 with helpers going to Joey Keys and Joel Everitt. The Eagles’ new addition of Lane Menage was eager to get in the game as he netted the Eagles’ second goal of the game at 14:40 with apples going to Scott Kallis and Scott Murphy. The Rams bounced back with a quick goal at 14:29 to bring the game back within one. Credit for the Rams’ first goal went to Mark Morrish from Clay Tjostheim. Clark Lowry then put the Eagles back up by two at 13:16 from Keys and Murphy. Wing found the back of the net once again for his second of the game at 10:02 off a feed from Keys and Lowry. The Rams struck once more before the end of the period to bring them back within two at 4:18. Credit for the Rams’ second goal went to Trevor Belder with an assist going to Jordan Breland.
The second period was by far the worst period of hockey I have ever seen at this level. The Eagles laid back and started playing rec hockey like it was a Monday night pickup game. The Rams took advantage of the Eagles’ slip-up and were able to capitalize. Dallas Opdendries brought the Rams within one of tying the game at 12:38 off a pass from linemate Trevor Belder. It was a good thing that Eagles netminder Evan Miller got his groove back after not seeing any game time for over a month. Miller was able to keep the Rams off the scoreboard for the rest of the period as the team in front of him floundered around looking for answers.
After a stern conversation amongst themselves in the room between periods the Eagles of late January returned to the ice for the third period. Murphy scored the Eagles’ fifth goal at 15:47 with assists going to Wing and Keys. Daryl Blais scored on the power play at 12:53 from Lowry for the team’s sixth goal. The goals kept coming for the Eagles. Ryan Kallis was next up to get on the board at 12:25 from Menage and Drew Coles. Lowry netted the Eagles’ eighth and final goal off a bad bounce off a Rams defenceman’s stick at 10:19.
Miller made 26 saves for the Eagles in their 8-3 win over the Rams. The Rams goaltender, Daryl Ruff made 44 stops to keep the game as close as it was.
The Eagles currently have no more games lined up until they get to Provost for Provincials on April 1st. They are however having a fundraising night this Saturday at the Fox and Hound. Please e-mail the Eagles at [email protected] for all information on this event.
Till next week
