With three skates under their belts, head coach Brian Sutter of the Innisfail Eagles is already looking forward to a better season than last year.
“We've had skates in Penhold, Red Deer, and this week we will be holding our first Innisfail practice,” said Sutter, who will be inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame later this month. “It's been good, and with every skate more guys show up as they figure out their work schedules and how it syncs with the games.”
Sutter said he has been on the phone daily and has already received “hundreds” of phone calls from players to man his squad with the best he can get.
“It's only 10 a.m. today, and I've already had three guys call me,” said Sutter. “With so many players contacting me, I have to do my research on them and check references. Sometimes I know more about them than they do.”
The ex-NHL coach and player has scoped out players with NHL experience, returning players from Europe, and local players with hockey skills.
“We have seen interest from players who are coming back from playing hockey around the world who want to get onto real life, and start working,” said Sutter. “We have a young Czech player, Zdenek Prochazka who was a defenceman in Europe who had found his way to Sylvan Lake at a hockey school, and we talked to him. He has been skating well and is a quality player who has a history of a high level of performance which is what I am looking for.”
He added that Danny Glover and Vince Connon, two local boys, are on the ice with the team and bringing valuable experience.
“The first question any player I have talked to asks is, ‘does the community support the team?'” said Sutter. “I can honestly say that Innisfail is 100 per cent behind the Eagles and word is getting around that this is a good senior hockey town.”
Des Lorencz, the Eagles' new general manager, said the team has also picked up a third goalie, Steven Stanford, who played five years in the WHL and with the University of British Columbia. “Our situation in goal will be stronger this year,” said Lorencz.
“Our first tournament action will be from October 3 to 5,” said Danny Daines, Eagles board member. “The Second Annual Chinook Classic will include all five teams from the Chinook Hockey League -- Bentley, Fort Saskatchewan, Innisfail, Okotoks, Stony Plain and Morinville -- and it will be a good opportunity to get a preview of the next six months of senior hockey.”
The Eagles are also planning their second Sportsman Night for Oct. 10, which will feature the voice of the Calgary Flames, Peter Maher, and Rich Preston for a special evening at the Royal Canadian Legion. Other guests have not yet been confirmed.
More information on upcoming Eagles events can be found online at www.innisfaileagles.com
