The Eagles hosted the Bentley Generals and the Carstairs Redhawks the weekend before Christmas. Admission was by donation to the Innisfail Food Bank or Christmas Bureau.
The boys played hard against the Generals Friday night. Goaltender Evan Miller was given the start after his outstanding play against Carstairs the weekend before. Miller stood tall through forty minutes, making save after save to keep the Generals to only a 5-1 lead. Daryl Blais scored the Eagles’ lone goal of the game in the second period with an assist going to Ian Brander. Miller made 29 saves over the first two periods.
By the third period the team was clearly outmanned and the Generals still had another gear. Miller was faced with 25 shots in the third period, stopping 20 of them. The boys didn’t have enough gas left in the tank to finish the game the same way they started.
On Saturday, the Redhawks made their first visit of the season to Innisfail. They showed up wanting revenge from the loss we handed them the weekend before, where we won our first game of the year in shootout.
Carstairs showed up in town with a new goaltender who proved to be the best addition to their team. The Eagles tried to squeak a couple past him in the first frame, but had no luck. The Redhawks did strike first, scoring the only goal of the period. Wade Waters was given the start and made 14 saves in the first.
Carstairs scored first in the second as well. Innisfail’s Sean Neumeier quickly got the Eagles on the board and back within one goal. Assists were given to Ryan Kallis and Tyler Doherty. The Redhawks bounced back quickly and scored two more to end the period with a 3-1 lead. Waters made another 15 saves in the second frame.
The Redhawks spent much of the third period on their heels . Most of the play was spent in their zone but the Eagles just couldn’t find a way to solve the Redhawks’ new tender. The Redhawks finished the period out with an empty- net goal for a 5-1 victory over the Eagles. Waters made another 12 saves in the third period.
The Eagles may not have won on the ice this past weekend. The team did, however, do some good for the community. The numerous gracious people who came and watched the team play this weekend along with the players themselves filled four large boxes with donations for the food bank and the Christmas bureau.
On behalf of the players, coaches, directors and management I would like to wish our fans and supporters a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Till next Year
